Category: What do you think?

The Book of Matthew

Does Matthew 10:24-23 apply to me or is it talking about someone else?

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Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

Matthew 10:24-32

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Matthew records Jesus giving his apostles instructions as they get ready to preach to the lost children of the House of Israel.  Part of those instructions are recorded in Matthew 10:24-32.  Here we see Jesus telling his Apostles it will not be an easy road for them. Let’s take a close look at what else he said, and how we know his words have meaning for us today.

In verse 24, Jesus tells the apostles a, “…student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.” (Matt. 10:24 NIV) I believe Jesus is letting them know just how bad it’s going to get for them because in the next verse he says, “It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!”  It seems clear to me He’s telling them, if people accused Jesus of this, then the apostles can expect to be called the same, or even worse. This is what Jesus told his apostles, but how do we know these verses have meaning for us?

Jesus gave these instructions to his apostles as they were heading out to preach specifically to Jewish people. Our directive today is quite different; we are to preach to all. It is also true we are disciples, not apostles. A disciple is anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. An apostle is someone Jesus directly sent to preach. Jesus’ instructions here are clearly for his chosen apostles for a specific task. I think it’s reasonable to infer from these verses that we may face persecution, but we need to recognize that an inference from scripture is not scripture itself. I am not saying that no one today is persecuted; far from it.  My point is these verses are Jesus’ instructions to his apostles and they are told they WILL be persecuted. While we may experience persecution, we are not always going into places comparable to the places the apostles went. Today we do not always meet the kind of danger they faced. I would argue that it depends on where one goes to preach. In most countries today we are not likely to be handed over to the government for prosecution.

I think it’s important at this point to mention that the above text is from the New International Version, and it says a “student” is not above the teacher.  The NASB uses the word “disciple.” I think the word disciple, used in this context, tells us that the warning of persecution applies to us as disciples when we are in a similar situation; that is, when we present the Gospel to those who’s doctrine and authority are questioned by God’s Word. I hope my reasoning here shows just how much care we should use before saying “the Bible says” to assure we do not unknowingly add to it. This requires a close reading.

Jesus ended his set of instructions in verses 32-33 saying, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” I hope I don’t sound like I’m splitting hairs with this next question.   In this context, when Jesus says “Whoever,” does this mean to whoever the apostles spoke, or does this include anyone, including those to whom the apostles have not spoken? I think it is most likely talking about anyone who acknowledges, not just to whoever the apostles spoke, because of what we see in other scriptures. God demands acknowledgement. It doesn’t matter if we are speaking of Old or New Testament.  Proverbs tells us, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” In New Testament books like Luke we see Jesus telling people, “…everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God; 9 but the one who denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God.” Is it not clear that God demands confession before others?

Do his words apply to us?  I believe so. I also believe they should not be presented without context or we risk changing their meaning.  What are your thoughts?

The Book of Matthew

The danger of out-of-context Bible verses

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Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

Matthew 10:16-23 NASB

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.

“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 10:16-23 tells us Jesus gave instructions to his disciples as he sent them to preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He warned them they will face persecution and opposition; that they will be as sheep among wolves. I want to use these verses today to illustrate some important things about scripture reading.  Scripture must be understood within context, sometimes we have questions that require us to look at other books of the Bible, and it’s important to know the difference between inferring something inferred from the Bible and the Bible itself.

Let’s start with Context. It is important any time we read the Bible. It’s one of the reasons we should be careful accepting someone’s message based on a Bible verse without understanding the context of that verse.

Matthew tells us of Jesus giving instructions to the 12 apostles. Some of what he says in Matthew is clearly specific to the apostles only for the job they are about to do. I say this because Jesus told them when they preach, “Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans.” But after the apostles finished their mission, and after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus told them, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…” The first instruction that the apostles not to preach to the Gentiles and Samaritans was meant for them, not me. It was also meant for them at a specific time for a specific purpose. Consider that the order not to preach to the Gentiles will contradict the second instruction to preach to everyone if the reader ignores context. There are well-meaning Christians who hear a scripture and make dogmatic statements based on it without taking time to understand its context. Some things, like Jesus’ telling the Apostles not to preach to the Gentiles, do not apply to you. What I’m saying is you must consider who is speaking to whom and for what reason or you can inadvertently add or subtract to God’s word. We are fortunate that there is more than one account because more than one apostle recorded what he saw. Sometimes the context of another apostle’s book sheds light on how a verse should be understood.

Consider Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ promise to his disciples that the Spirit of the Father will give them the words to say when they are called before rulers and authorities. Is this an instruction to the apostles only? Does this instruction apply to me? Matthew is speaking directly to the Apostles about the journey they are about to take, so I understand this to mean his words apply to them only. So, let’s look at what another apostle had to say and consider inferring from it.

One could say Luke cleared this up when he told a crowd, “The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.” But again, he was speaking to a group at a specific time for a specific purpose.  I could infer from this that it applies to me because he was speaking to a crowd, but I can’t say the Bible tells me so because my inference could be mistaken. I see nothing wrong with inferring things from scripture as a guide as long as it is not presented as being scripture.

The message in Matthew’s writings is very relevant. It is important enough that we should use care to understand it beyond a superficial reading, and certainly not through snippets removed from context.  That’s a sure way to misunderstand any important writing.

What are your thoughts?

On the web:

CROSSWALK: What Should Pastors Know about Matthew 10?

Homeless people under a bridge

The least shall be greatest

Published on by Texas Gospel1 Comment

Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

Mark 10:17-22 tells us about an encounter Jesus had with a rich leader.  The man said he had followed all of the commandments. He then asked Jesus what he had to do to be saved. Jesus told the man to sell what he had, give it to the poor, and follow him. The man left grieving because of what this would cost him. Let’s consider which is important: Actions or Motives. Let’s also consider why this is important and what may be the biggest stumbling block to our understanding.

The rich man’s works were not enough for salvation even though he followed the law. He did the right thing, but did he do so because God was the most important part of his life? His great wealth seemed to be a stumbling block.  Much was given to him, but he did not seem willing to give to God accordingly. One could infer from the scripture that this is why Jesus told him to get rid of his wealth. I believe Jesus looked at the man’s motives and not just his actions.  Jesus judged the man’s heart, something we see God doing in the Old Testament as well.

Genesis tells us, “Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no regard.” Cain may have had a nice offering but was his motive acceptable to God?  Hebrews 11:4 offers the answer as it reflects back to this Old Testament book. It says, “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain…” It wasn’t just his actions but that they were the result of his faith; they were a reflection of what was in his heart.  The book of 1 Samuel is very clear about how God judges: God looks at our heart.

Earlier I mentioned that the rich ruler’s wealth was a stumbling block. Consider, Cain too had plenty but unlike the rich ruler, Cain’s wealth was not a stumbling block. He gave freely to God. Having a lot of stuff isn’t the problem. The rich leader’s property was his downfall because that’s where his heart was.  I suggest that wealth of money, wealth of property even wealth of intelligence can be a stumbling block if you value it more than pleasing God.  There sure are a lot of top scientists unwilling to accept faith as a gift as they reject anything they do not understand. In the same way some rich people lean on money to get what they want and are unwilling to accept some things cannot be bought, there are highly intelligent people who hold a similar position when it comes to leaning on their own understanding rather than trust in the Lord.  Their heart, and their trust, lies with their wealth of knowledge. Anything we desire more than knowing and pleasing God can be our downfall.

To sum this all up, Grace is not something we can earn by doing the right things as the rich ruler seemed to think.  It is not something we can buy.  It is not something we achieve through our great intellect.  Grace does not come from our ability or works.  Saving grace is a gift. It is something that can be overlooked if we allow our ego to get in the way. It’s something we can reject if we are afraid to let go of anything that prevents us from accepting it. Those who feel their abundance wealth, intellect or status can earn salvation may think themselves worthy, but they are not.  Isn’t this why some of the greatest will become the least and some of the least shall become the greatest?

What are your thoughts?

Why did Jesus tell his apostles to preach only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel?

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Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

Matthew 10:5-6 tells us Jesus sent his 12 disciples to preach to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Jesus specifically ordered them not to preach to the Gentiles or Samaritans, but to tell to Israel’s lost sheep  that the kingdom of heaven is near. This may seem like an odd thing for Jesus to say.  Why not preach to everyone? Let me be very clear on this point: I don’t know; meaning, I do not know of a specific verse that explains this. I think we can infer an answer, but I make no claim that such an answer is Gospel. I only claim that my inference is based on scripture. With that in mind, let’s look at what is written, and where it may lead.

We can extrapolate from Matthew’s writing that he wrote to a Jewish audience to convince them that Jesus is the prophesied Jewish Messiah. I say this because Matthew repeatedly used the phrase “to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet.” I believe Matthew’s purpose is to show that Jesus is the one Jewish people had been expecting. With this in mind, would it not make sense that Matthew recorded things that Jesus did specifically for Jewish people?

It is written in the Old Testament that God made a covenant with the Jewish people. The fifth book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, tells us Jewish people are a holy people. It says God chose them, “… to be a people for His personal possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Exodus tells us God told Moses that the Sons of Israel, “…shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The Old Testament clearly tells us Jewish people have a special place. But what about the New Testament?

Romans 1:16 tells us salvation is for everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Acts 3:25-26 tells us the prophets say to the Jewish people, “… God raised up His Servant for you first, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”  It appears to me that Jesus fulfills this by telling his disciples to go preach to the Jews. Fortunately for the rest of us, we too may accept salvation because of God’s grace. Salvation is not something into which one is born, even if one is born Jewish. I would argue that it’s harder for a Jewish believer because of social pressures. That certainly was the case in Jesus’ day if you consider how Jewish leaders reacted to Jesus.

Matthew 10:16 tells us that Jesus gave a warning to his disciples as they went to preach to the lost sheep. He told his disciples they would be sheep in the midst of wolves. He said some will be eager to hand them over to be flogged in the synagogues. The culture of Jesus’ day was not friendly to anyone who would upset the apple cart by preaching Messiah has come. But I would caution about being too judgmental of them because of this.  We certainly see people triggered today anytime someone mentions the Gospel.

Why did Jesus tell his apostles to preach only to Jewish people?  What are your thoughts.

AROUND THE WEB:

  1. CBN: What Does the Bible Teach about the Jewish People and the Nation of Israel?
  2. Got Questions: What does it mean that the Jews are God’s chosen people?
  3. IFCJ: Why God Chose the Jewish People
  4. CPM: Why are the Jewish people special?
The Book of Matthew

Do you read the Bible to prove a point?

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Matthew 9:32-34 (NASB) 32 And as they were going out, behold, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to Him. 33 And after the demon was cast out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

The 9th Chapter of Matthew tells us of Jesus working miracles as he fulfills prophecy about the Messiah. Matthew tells us the Pharisees saw Jesus cast out demons and restore a man’s ability to speak. Their reaction was to infer from what they saw that Jesus cast out demons by the “…ruler of the demons.” It seems to me they inferred this because of their pre-conceived false idea that Jesus must be a fraud. I say this because I see no other way could dismiss what they saw with their own eyes. Perhaps the Pharisees reflected on Exodus that tell us when Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, they did some miraculous things as a sign that that their message is from God. But Exodus also tells us that the “soothsayer priests did the same with their secret arts.” I believe they were blinded to the truth because they were more interested in being proven right.  What would happen to their position in society if Jesus was indeed the Messiah?

The Pharisees witnessed Jesus’ miracles, yet they still refused to accept what they saw for what it is. Matthew does not tell us they sought guidance from God to reveal the truth of what took place. Matthew only tells the conclusion they reached to dismiss it as something evil. Isn’t this the way people today react when presented with a scripture that goes against a doctrine they strongly believe? Are there not people today who read the Bible to prove an idea rather than read and pray that God would reveal the meaning of His word?

What are your thoughts?