QT 2/28/2022 Matt 21:33-41, Fruit--what are we doing to produce fruit?

Matthew 21:33–41 (ESV) —

33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

 

NOTE: The parable closely resembles a passage in Isaiah 5:1–2 (ESV)

1 Let me sing for my beloved

my love song concerning his vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard

on a very fertile hill.

2 He dug it and cleared it of stones,

and planted it with choice vines;

he built a watchtower in the midst of it,

and hewed out a wine vat in it;

and he looked for it to yield grapes,

but it yielded wild grapes.

Additionally, Isaiah declares that the vineyard is Israel: Isaiah 5:3–4 (ESV)

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem

and men of Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard.

4 What more was there to do for my vineyard,

that I have not done in it?

When I looked for it to yield grapes,

why did it yield wild grapes?

There is an emphasis on "fruit" in this passage and the preceding passage on the cursed fig tree. The wording reminds one of Psalm 1:3 (ESV)

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

God was looking for fruit from his special people group that he put his name upon and they had not delivered. He warned them many times through his prophets and they still did not obey. Jesus says that the vineyard is now going to other tenants. The church is the "other tenants." We don't replace God's plan for Israel--that is not finished, but we carry on the task that they did not complete.

 

PONDER:

1. So what am I doing to produce fruit?
2. How am I taking care of his vineyard?

 

PRAYER: Father, the church with the Holy Spirit within and has done a good job of taking the gospel around the world. And, in many cases, has produced the fruit that is a pleasant aroma to others around us. I could also say the opposite things of major swarths of Christianity, so the results are mixed. My emphasis has to be on me and what am I doing to be a pleasant aroma to my world? And while my recognition of my own sin grows deeper so does my realization of the positive change in those I interact. Thank you for changing me.

QT 2/25/2022 Matt 21:28-32, Has Jesus CHANGED you?

Matthew 21:28–32 (ESV) —

28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

 

NOTE: I suppose there are two other groups, the one who said he will and does. The last group is the one who said he won't and he does not. But Jesus focuses not on the person who was true to his word as are both my cases above, but on the person who acts differently than his initial response. It seems that religious Jews are the first group Jesus mentions.

 

“And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,” (Isaiah 29:13, ESV)

 

The Gentiles would be the group far from God, but in repentance turn to God and do what he says. With whom will God be pleased? In this case the Gentile "dog" (as referred to by Jewish people of that time) is more acceptable to God than "his" people.

 

In reality, I have complicated it too much. It is not Jew and Gentile, but those who do what God requires (to believe in his son) and those who do not (they reject his son). The church is this group or entity, and is composed of both Jew and Gentile (believers in Jesus).

 

This probably is a continuation of his non-answer to the question of authority previously asked. Religiosity is not the answer (saying you accept Jesus as the Son of God and his sacrifice for your sin, and then not allowing him to reign), but actually believing and accepting the son's reign over your life. I know this sounds a little like lordship salvation, but what makes lordship salvation work is that a true believer should experience the new life, and if there is no change -- Jesus is not Lord -- then was the response just intellectual or just emotional?

 

PONDER:

1. How do I know Jesus is my savior? Do I see any change from within?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that I know in my heart that Jesus has changed me. I am not who I was. It is the Spirit of God who has recreated me. There is no denying that change. I still struggle and am still changing, but I know who my redeemer is and he lives within my heart.

QT 2/24/2022 Matt 21:23-27, Whose authority do I recognize?

Matthew 21:23–27 (ESV) —

23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

NOTE: Here begins a long section on Jesus' authority. Jesus responds to the first question of authority with his own question, a common rabbinical device. And while the question did put his questioners in a bind, it was also an answer to their question. The people held that John was a prophet, and more importantly, the scriptures tell us the same. He was the forerunner for Jesus. His ministry was directly tied to preparing people for the coming of the messiah. When Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke from heaven, "this is my son," and the Spirit descended as a dove. Jewish rules required two rabbis with authority to confer authority to another rabbi. But Jesus' authority was inherit -- he was God. But the triune God added two additional persons of authority, the Father and the Spirit who conferred authority to the son. This event conducted by John the Baptist was the essential act of authority required by Jewish rule. Additionally, if John was sent by God to reveal Jesus, his messenger, then Jesus is by implication sent from God as well. The question was answered but not in a way that the leaders might use in a court hearing.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I see Jesus as the complete authority in my life?
2. Or do I play a game like so many others, acknowledging God but ignoring him mostly in living?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to what true obedience looks like. Don't allow us to fool ourselves into thinking we serve you when we don't. Change us to be like your son.

QT 2/23/2022 Matt 21:18-22, We will be judged too

 

Matthew 21:18–22 (ESV) —

18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

 

NOTE: First, I think something should be said about the cursing of the "innocent" fig tree or even the casting out of a legion of demons into "innocent" pigs that then drown in a lake. God sees people as immensely different than plant and animal life. They are not the same. Man is made in God's image, and that is not said of any other life on the planet. Jesus saw value in people. That is not to say we can be cruel to God's creatures, but they are not the same as people.

 

Secondly, these passages (chapters 21-22) are tied together and there is a lesson in them. I think in this case, a literal interpretation (always our first choice) does not make as much sense as a metaphorical. Jesus has just introduced himself as the king in the triumphal entry. Now, Matthew will focus on the response of the people. Israel is the fig tree, and for over a thousand years God has been waiting for fruit. And now, God stands among them and is rejected. And so the generation that rejected their Messiah is judged. Forty years from now, the temple will be destroyed, the entire city burned, and over a million Jews will die because they failed to recognize the time of God's visitation. A remnant will take the gospel into the known world and create a new entity, the church (Jew and Gentile as one). God is not finished with Israel as Romans 11 tells us, but for this failure at this time in history it was judged.

 

PONDER:

1. If God did not spare the true vines, will he spare the grafted?
2. I can't lose my salvation, but I can experience judgment for failing in my mission, what am I doing or failing to do?

 

PRAYER: Protect us from our selfish and small view of the world. You have called us to a mission and we need to be doing it.

QT 2/22/2022 Matt 21:12-17, Getting confused on our purpose

Matthew 21:12–17 (ESV) —

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 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.”

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 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’?”

17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

 

NOTE: Jesus has fully presented himself to Israel. He has fulfilled prophecy. He has cleaned out the temple, he has healed the outcasts, and he is recognized by the lowly, the children. And what is the response of the leaders to the Messiah? They were angry as if something unjust or wrong had just occurred.

 

An interesting thought from another commentator (Maticich) suggested that the temple had become a site of Jewish nationalism, adding superstitious respect for it. So instead of being a house of prayer, they had ruined it and made it a symbol of politics. Unfortunately, many do the same today with the Christian faith, associating it with political thought rather than a deeply based need for salvation from our sins.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my faith expressed in the mission of God, to save this world from its' sin or is it based on a certain political party being in power?

 

PRAYER: Father, free us from politics. There is nothing wrong with good laws, but laws will not change hearts nor will they save us from hell. Change our perspective so that we have your priorities

QT 2/21/2022 Matt 21:8-11, Trusting God for his best

Matthew 21:8–11 (ESV) —

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!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

 

NOTE: While it might have been natural to celebrate Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem, and it fulfills a number of prophesies, it is actually the wrong celebration at the wrong time. He is not the conquering king but the suffering servant in this entrance. He will conquer sin by his death, but he will not give the people what they want. Instead, he will give them what they need, a savior to take away sin, and heal our souls -- this is our greatest need. The crowds are fickle. Some probably didn't even know why they were there (much like the crowd Demetrius stirred up in Ephesus). Many will be part of another crowd later that week which will scream out "crucify him." It seems people have a longing for significant events and the emotional upheaval, as long as it does not cause us any pain. Anyway, and fortunately, God knows our real needs and works for our good (as viewed from his perspective). Our need is a savior, not money, not prestige, not comfort, not excitement, not upheaval, but a savior to free us from our sin.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God for his best?
2. Or do I have expectations from God for what I think is my best?

 

PRAYER: Father, I struggle with wanting my needs met in my way. Forgive me for a me-focused view and for not trusting you that you truly know what is best for me. Your good will always be better than my good.

QT 2/18/2022 Matt 21:5-7, The message is Jesus, not politics

Matthew 21:5–7 (ESV) —

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

humble, and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

 

NOTE: He came not as a general on a warhorse nor a king on a stately mount. He did not come as a rich man carried in a coach. He came on a young donkey (following his mother), sitting atop some cloaks. He was not a warrior, but a humble man less than a week from freely giving his life to save a world unworthy of his visit or sacrifice. He hardly qualified as a threat. He had trained no army. He had invested three years in teaching 12 men to live as servants to others, in holiness and righteousness. That was his army. None would be political or military leaders. They would not war to change laws or authorities. They would share a powerful message of forgiveness to a needy world. And so how do we use our time?

 

PONDER:

1. What is our message to the world? Is it a message of forgiveness or a message of politics and political power?
2. Do we yearn for others to know Jesus or to vote the same way we desire?
3. Have we corrupted what it means to be saved by faith in Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, help us to be about the message of the gospel. Keep us from the things Satan would use to distract us from our true calling. May we keep our focus on the eternal things, not the external things.

QT 2/17/2022 Matt 20:29-34, Everyone has intrinsic worth

Matthew 20:29–34 (ESV) —

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

 

NOTE: It is hard to truly understand the setting without having been there. Matthew's description provides some insight. There were two blind men sitting by the road, obviously beggars asking alms for those who walked by. Hearing (one of the blind's special abilities) that Jesus was passing, they make a ruckus, calling out in a loud voice for attention. They are ruining the moment for those following Jesus to Jericho, possible making it difficult to hear what he might be saying or doing as he walks on the road. These beggars were the bottom rung of society. They refused, or did not know how, to conform to the social rules of the situation. And surprisingly, Jesus stops for these two men whom the crowd wished did not exist. Jesus takes time to meet with the lowly and the needy. Jesus serves them, just as he had just told his disciples -- for the son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. They were not an interruption, they were his purpose and mission.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I see people as an interruption to my life, or as my purpose in life?
2. Do I see myself as needy and on the same social scale (in God's eyes) as the beggars?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see people as you see people and to recognize the inherent value in every relationship and encounter. Give me grace to overcome my selfishness and ugly thoughts.

QT 2/16/2022 Matt 20:24-28, Christian leadership

Matthew 20:24–28 (ESV) —

24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 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.”

 

NOTE: We are not different than the disciples. We want the titles. We want the pomp. We want to be treated as if we are more important than others. It is our sinful flesh which desires "the pride of life." Jesus' disciples thought as we do, they mimicked the world around them. The world, as Weber notes,

 

The way they demonstrated their “greatness” was to lord it over others and to exercise authority. Jesus was not criticizing authoritative or hierarchical structure but the “strutting.”

Such behavior is born out of insecurity and pride. The person who “bosses” others around is trying to prove to himself that he is as great as he hopes. It is only an illusion … (Weber, S. K. (2000). Matthew (Vol. 1, p. 324). Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

 

But we have the Holy Spirit, and we can see it, and -- we can act differently. Why?

 

1. Because I have nothing to prove. I am an adopted child of God. My father is the King of kings and Lord of lords. I am completely accepted by God, and fully loved. I have an incredible inheritance. I already have value (importance).
2. That kind of behavior is inimical to our witness and the advancement of the gospel, especially as a leader. Those around us should see a difference in our leadership because of our salvation.

 

What should that look like, as a leader?

 

1. I don't need all the attention, I need to get the focus on the team members
2. I don't need the credit, I need to give others credit for the work (even when it is my idea)
3. I don't need to make all the decisions, I need to let others take ownership
4. I don't need to dominate meetings, I need only help (finding the balance is not easy)

 

PONDER:

1. Am I selfless leader? Do I care that others get the credit?
2. Do I desire the pomp? Am I comfortable being the janitor?

 

PRAYER: Father, as a leader, I want people to see a difference in my life that encourages them to pursue faith in my savior. Continue to use me toward that purpose.

QT 2/15/2022 Matt 20:20-23, Focus on the message, not the externals

Matthew 20:20–23 (ESV) —

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 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.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

 

NOTE: I'm sure the other disciples were furious because they had not thought of it first. The story illustrates that the disciples really did not understand what Jesus had just told them for the third time, that he was going to die. They seemed to almost ignore the statement except when he said it (then they would be sad for a bit). Otherwise, their focus was on positions in the new kingdom. For James and John, little did they know that James would be the first of the twelve (not counting Judas) to die, and John would end up exiled on an island later in the century. They had no idea what the cup was. It was not a little bit of disagreement or a loss of popularity, it was tremendous suffering and then the loss of life. They really had the focus wrong. They were interested in politics, but Jesus was interested in the spiritual condition of a lost world.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I more engaged in politics or in the salvation of my friends and neighbors? One is meaningless in the long term and the other affects eternity for some.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for what was done on the cross for me. I doubt I would have acted any different than the apostles, and ultimately they suffered greatly for the gospel, much more than I do. Forgive me for being critical, and help me do the right thing in my witness to others.

QT 2/14/2022 Matt 20:17-19, We rejected God, but a few accept him

Matthew 20:17–19 (ESV) —

17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 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.”

 

NOTE: This is the third time Jesus tells his disciples of his upcoming death. At first, Peter tried to use a "let's think positive" response (for which Jesus rebuked him). The second time, the disciples were very distressed. This third time, there is no response. Each time he has mentioned his rising from the dead. In this third explanation, he gives details of the mocking, flogging, and involvement of the Gentiles. All of his details are consistent with the Roman's crucifixion process. The Jewish leadership did not have the authority to put a person to death. As we will see later, it was Jew and Gentile who crucified the savior, which makes sense, since humanity rejected God in the garden and humanity rejected God's savior at Gethsemane.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I really know the savior or am I just religious? There is a huge difference. One will spend eternity as an adopted child of God and the other will spend eternity in hell on equal footing with the irreligious and wicked.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we could understand the truth of the gospel message. We need to put our faith in your son for our salvation. Intellectual ascent, good works, or extreme emotion is not enough. We need a relationship with God through Jesus' work on the cross.

QT 2/11/2022 Matt 20:1-16, We were the enemy

Matthew 20:1–16 (ESV) —

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 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.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 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, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 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. 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.”

 

NOTE: We have a concept of fairness that is rooted in our image of God, but is distorted by our worldview and previous decision. Yes, life should be fair (that comes from our creation in God's image). But since we fail to see ourselves as created by God, fairness is only a social contract to most. Certainly life is not promised to be fair in a world view dominated by random evolution (in this case, unfairness is to be expected -- where we live, what we look like, and so on). So, we believe we must enforce fairness in our social settings because life does not promise it otherwise.

 

But turn it around and accept that we are created, but rebelled against the creator who gave us life. We rebelled and chose to be our own gods -- do we have any right to demand fairness from the creator when we are his enemies? (The new testament [Rom 5:10; Eph 2:15] calls us enemies of God). Do we have any right to question why God shows mercy to one and not to another? Do we have any rights vis-a-vis the creator as created things? Rather, should we not be grateful for anything the creator has done or is doing?

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe I have rights before God (I don't)?
2. Do I recognize that I am created by God and can just as easily be destroyed by God for any failure or imperfection? And if I realize that, do I then realize I do have one right -- the promise given to me by Jesus' obedience and death to be a true child of God?

John 1:12 (ESV) — But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

 

PRAYER: Father, I thank you so much for my salvation. I was your enemy without any rights. I was deserving of eternal damnation. And yet, you showed grace to me and saved me through your son. Thank you for the precious gift of salvation.

QT 2/10/2022 Matt 20:1-16, We need to be grateful!

Matthew 20:1–16 (ESV) —

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 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.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 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, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 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. 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.”

 

NOTE: Israel has been serving (or at least knowledgeable of) God for more than a thousand years. The Gentiles will receive salvation soon, and the reward will be exactly the same. I think the difficulty with the parable is that we don't realize our utter moral failure before God. If we did, we would have no issue with whoever God chooses to save, no matter how evil or how destructive the person has been to the kingdom. Salvation is a free gift, and is totally undeserved. We should be grateful to be saved. We should be grateful for eternal life. We should be grateful to be adopted into the family of God. In and of ourselves, we are unworthy of all God has done for us.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I truly grateful for my salvation?
2. Am I grateful for the salvation of others, no matter what kind of life they lived in the past?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am grateful for salvation and for the life you have given me. I wish more people could know the joy I have because of my relationship with you. If I have any grumbling, it is because so few "christians" live the life of gratefulness and relationship.

QT 2/9/2022 Matt 19:25-30, God is the one doing good works in my life, not me

Matthew 19:25–30 (ESV) —

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 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.

 

NOTE: It is important to not miss the disciple's astonishment. They are confused for a number of reasons. First, the Old Covenant law did promise physical blessing for obedience (at least on the national level, if not also at the individual level). The New Covenant promises blessing both now in the future (with an emphasis on the future kingdom) but also suffering for the sake of the kingdom in this present life. Secondly, they are stuck on the same point that the rich man was stuck, salvation is not dictated by works. Almost every religion in the world has a performance (works) aspect, and many branches under the title of Christianity have mistakenly added that requirement. But what Jesus did on the cross satisfies the impossibility of complete adherence to the law and lays out the only requirement for salvation -- faith. Even today, people are astonished. They still think we have to "be good" not realizing that by faith in Christ alone, we are born again, so that God makes us "good."

 

PONDER:

1. Do I understand that I have no argument whatsoever for heaven except what Jesus did for me?

 

PRAYER: Father, root out the pride in my life. I know it has nothing to do with me. You have changed my life and are continuing to change my life each day, week, and year. I am different today not because of works but because of your work in my life.

QT 2/8/2022 Matt 19:20-24, Free to give

Matthew 19:20–24 (ESV) —

20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 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.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

NOTE: If the man had truly kept the commandments, he would still be lacking, because his heart is evil. To prove it, Jesus pushes a button that would probably get every single person in the western world -- give up everything to the poor, and live for the gospel. How many of us would walk away sad? The only way to obtain eternal life is through belief in the death of Jesus for my sin and his resurrection which is our promise of eternal life. Yes, we are called to give it up all, at least in the sense that it does not control our life. Most of us must work and take care of our family. But most can give far more than we do. I have found that instead of increasing your giving greatly, you increase it gradually, it is easy and enjoyable. Whatever you are giving now, at the next pay increase, put half of the increase into your giving. You are living well enough without it, so it shouldn't make a difference. Every time you get another increase, don't proportionately increase your giving, instead give a larger chunk of the increase. Over time you will see the percentage of money that you are giving grow quite large, and you will barely notice the effect on your life. You won't have as many possession as your neighbors, but you will be free of the control of money.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I struggle with increasing my giving?
2. Am I legalistic in my giving, giving ten percent and no more?

 

PRAYER: Father, free us from the worship of money. It is an idol in our lives, and yet it can be something so much more blessed. Free us to live for you in joy, hospitality, and philanthropy.

QT 2/7/2022 Matt 19:16-19, We cannot possibly earn God's favor by anything we do

 

Matthew 19:16–19 (ESV) —

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

NOTE: This is a difficult passage to interpret because we don't know the man's intent, nor his knowledge of the matter in question, nor his motivation. Matthew changes the question a little bit (at least from the way Mark recorded it in Mark 10) so that it focuses on what "good deed" is required to gain eternal life? With our illumination of scripture from Paul, we know the answer -- you can't do anything but believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. But at this point in the story, Jesus has not died for sins. Jesus repeats the technical answer -- you must obey all the commandments. But the man knew that answer, all Israel knew that answer, the problem was that obeying all the commandments was impossible. It is impossible to be good or to do good at all times. In many ways, Jesus' response is a repeat of the Sermon on the Mount. It is a message that drives people to see their need for a solution. The first step in seeing someone come to Christ is that they must recognize that they are a sinner in desperate need for a savior.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I ever recognized my total inability to please God by my actions? Or do I still believe that God sees me as good?

 

PRAYER: Father, free us of the danger of thinking that we are good. Without Jesus, we are wicked in your eyes. Our best efforts are filthy rags in your sight. Without Jesus, we are nothing. Only Jesus' righteousness even allows us to come before your presence.

QT 2/4/2022 Matt 19:13-15, What is truly valuable to us?

Matthew 19:13–15 (ESV) —

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

 

NOTE: We have such a misplaced understanding of what is important in life. We value things and money, position and prestige, our wants and desires. We disvalue the poor, the lowly, and what does not fit in our agenda. We don't recognize the intrinsic value of people. When Jesus returns and fixes this warped society we live in today, he will establish value based not on race or any other ethnic measure but on the value of a human life. He died for each and every one of us, so our value is infinite in the eyes of God. And for those who believe, they are heirs and co-heirs with Christ -- sons and daughters of the King. Until sin and death are eradicated, we will always have a problem with prejudice, whether it is toward those who have more than we, or look differently than we, or think differently than we. Our sinful nature is programmed to hate, which is why the further a person gets from God, the more hateful they become.

 

PONDER:

1. What is really valuable to me?
2. When I am interrupted, what are the things, reasons, or people that upset me and why?

 

PRAYER: Father, what is important to me? What bothers me when I am interrupted and why? Help me to make your values and your agenda mine. Help me to see people, all people, as important because they are made in your image and because Jesus died that they might have eternal life. You care for all as I should care for all.

QT 2/3/2022 Matt 19:7-12, Making marriage last

Matthew 19:7–12 (ESV) —

7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

 

NOTE: The disciple's response seems to suggest that they had viewed divorce as an acceptable option and Jesus's words make them think they would be better off staying single. Certainly marriage is hard but to go into marriage thinking there is an option out is a cowardly and deceitful action. There is no doubt that marriage takes a lot of work, and I doubt anyone recognizes how much work until they are married. Two people with sin natures, family baggage, mental health makeup, bodies that will age, and each desiring control is a guarantee of significant struggles. If anything, we should wonder how God could continue to love us, not how we can continue to love our wives. I am fortunate that my wife of 37-plus years is still my best friend, but there were days where it was difficult to love. Life does not always go as planned. In my married years I've seen expectations as the greatest danger to married life. Rather than expecting another to act like I want, the focus needs to be on me acting as I should (or did during the dating phase).

 

PONDER:

1. Do I recognize the necessity of working at loving my spouse?
2. Do I recognize that the only thing I can control is how I can love my spouse more?

 

PRAYER: Father, the previous parable regarding the king and the servant with a massive debt is a good picture of marriage. God forgave me and gave me a beautiful wife. I can learn to forgive her and love her in the same way God has loved me. Give me grace to reflect that kind of love.

QT 2/2/2022 Matt 19:1-6, Divorce still is not God's will for marriage

Matthew 19:1–6 (ESV) —

1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

 

NOTE: The context is a first century dispute between different schools of thought in regard to divorce. The Shammai-Hillel debate centered on the grounds for divorce. Based on Deut 24:1,

"When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house,

Hillel emphasized "some indecency in her" which was translated as "anything" that a man could divorce his wife for any reason. The literature of the time emphasized things as trivial as "spoiling his dish" or crass, such as "finding someone prettier." The problem is that the Pharisees really believed these were legitimate reasons and that more people were tending to follow the Hillel "no fault" divorce argument. In that respect, Jesus brings the argument back to the beginning: we were created for permanent union. It was never God's intent that there be any reason for divorce. Now, as will be addressed next, man fell in the garden and sin was introduced ("hardness of heart" as Jesus will describe), but it was never God's intent.

 

PONDER:

1. Love is a commitment and marriage is built upon a commitment to love. It is easy to "fall out of love" if we are not committed to our spouse. Are we committed to our spouse? Do we choose to love our spouse?

 

PRAYER: Father, the world around us has taken special pleasure in destroying the sanctity of marriage. It is so common, from living together before marriage, to adultery within the bonds of marriage. The Satan-controlled media tells us it is normal and okay, but it is not, and it never has been. Bring us back to the truth; bring us back to the commitment to our spouses.

QT 2/1/2022 Matt 18:28-35, Do I truly forgive others as I have been forgiven?

Matthew 18:28–35 (ESV) —

28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 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?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

 

NOTE: The scene is repeated in the second half of the parable between the original servant and a fellow servant. This time the sum is paltry in comparison to the previous amount. The exact same words are used by the fellow servant that the original servant had used when he was forgiven. The difference is the original servant refuses to grant mercy to his fellow servant, instead throwing his fellow servant into jail. The events are reported to the master and the original servant is now delivered to jail. The summary statement is: "So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

 

How does this apply? Was the first servant a believer or only offered the forgiveness that comes from the cross? If he was a believer, he can't lose his salvation, although his life can be a bitter trial if he can't learn to forgive. Or is the situation somewhat impossible, but not completely. There are consequences if we refuse to forgive another, very serious consequences, though falling short of a loss of salvation. This is an important matter to God. He has forgiven us incredibly, so also we should forgive others.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I hold a grudge against another for a false accusation or some other sin? Then I need to forgive.
2. Do I truly comprehend my own forgiveness? If not, I may never recognize my deep need to forgive others.

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I have been forgiven. There is no question in my mind. The real question is, do I forgive others completely? Satan has tried to attack me through others. It is a very hurtful thing. I have learned from those situations, but have I forgiven the other parties? Father, I do want to forgive from my heart. I want to show grace if I ever see them again.