Tag: Love for enemies

Dig Deeper

 

Today’s Reading: Matthew Chapter 5

As I continue in Biblejournal club, I have continue to grow in my understanding of each blog and each biblical passage. As we enter this new section of the year with the New Testament, I can see each portion in a different perspective. For the majority of my life I have seen the books of the New Testament as the journey of Jesus and the apostles. It tells the different perspectives of Jesus and the many journeys of Paul and his letters to the churches.
As I read through Matthew, my perception has changed and evolve into one that really looks at the author and their experience and their testimony of Jesus and how it relates to me and others today. Each of the writers of the gospel have been appointed by the Holy Spirit to relay the gospel to us, but each had their own backgrounds and those influenced the manner in which they conveyed their experience. Matthew was originally a tax collector. We know that this is a profession that is still not highly adored. The reason is because they have been taught how to look for the most obscure information and gain the most wealth from it. He knew how to dig deep. Matthew in his writing digs deep into some of these experiences of Jesus.
In chapter 5, we are at the sermon in the mount. The beatitudes are given to us here. But in The Message version these become so much clearer and more profound. Jesus is telling us to look deeper at the law and find the true underlying meaning. We sometimes get the crust of the issue, but not the core.
Matthew 5: 3- 10

 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Salt and light – Allow our life with God to be the seasonings to the others. We should be able to bring the essence of God through our walk.  We should enhance the love and life of others if we are part of God.
Murder – Not only killing the physical person, but stop killing the essence of the person. Don’t degrade your neighbor or kill their spirit.
Adultery and Divorce – these are not just the act, but the moral complexity that are attached. Jesus is telling us not to get raped up with the legal ramifications but look at the moral implications. He is telling us to see the heart more so than the body. The spirit and the soul more than the act.
Empty promises – When we interact with each other, do not put on a facade. Let your words be true and not contrite with useless hopes and religious platitudes. Be real with others and not fake.
Love your enemies – Do good to those that would bro you harm or have done you harm. Loving your enemies doesn’t mean to put yourself in harms way, but it means to not allow hatred and despair make you do things that you wouldn’t want to do. Loving your enemies allows you to control your emotions and actions in the midst of adversity and strife.
In the midst of our daily lives, we have to look at the deeper meaning of the journey.  When we experience joy and happiness, we must look deeper to give the same joy and happiness to others even.  They might be experiencing something traumatic in their lives.  If we are going through some difficult times, we may have to dig deeper to see how is this glorifying God in the midst of our trials.  Sometimes God uses us to be reflections of his amazing grace and love in our most tremulous times.  God is in control, we will show his glory.
Be Blessed.

Questions Jesus Asked

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to serve life or destroy it?”

In schools, work, or home we can talk about the importance of questions. The importance of communication. Questions can drive learning.  We understand that in our questions we can connect with a person and get to know that persons thoughts, feelings, and experiences based on an answer.  Paul and Elder (2000) state that ‘Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions. Had no questions been asked by those who laid the foundation for a field…the field would never have developed in the first place’. In order to keep a field of thought (or a concept/topic) alive teachers have to constantly ask questions of it, rather than simply allowing that field to close down. Teachers are then able to challenge existing or established answers through questioning to challenge students’ (people’s) thinking. Jesus asks great questions! He made people question their prior beliefs. Even better, Jesus modeled and shares even better answers!

I was once given a document back on 2015 from Dr. J.K. Jones (I believe) that shared 176 questions Jesus asked. I often look at this list and think of the stories behind each question. The lives transformed from a question asked. I’ve attached it to the bottom to reflect on.  Jesus our greatest teacher asks many questions that connect with us all the time. Luke chapter 6 has a few questions and a few answers that can help guide us not only today but for our earthly lifetime until we are called back home with Him.  So if we were to do a short Q & A from this today’s reading here’s how it may go.

Q: Should we do good or evil? Serve life or destroy it?

A: Jesus heals a persons hand on the Sabbath, He changed the minds of others who focused only on the law. (verse 3-5 & 9-10)

Q: Who does Jesus call to be disciples?

A: Jesus calls everyone. From all walks of life. All Twelve apostles had a story.  They each had different backgrounds and when Jesus called them,  they listened.  Ordinary people with an extra-ordinary calling. (verse 12-16, Isaiah 45:22)

Q:  Who should we love as we align ourselves with Jesus?

A: Jesus tells us to love everyone. Our neighbor, our enemies. (verse 27-28, 35 Matthew 5:43, Romans 12:10)

Q: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

A: Jesus says do not judge, do not condemn, and forgive. (verse 37, Matthew 7:1-5)

 

The best part about our reading today and talking about the importance of questions is the knowledge that in every answer, we can say Jesus!

Dear Lord, We thank you and praise you for your love and grace. We ask for continued love and guidance always and that in the questions that are asked of us daily, we can answer Jesus.  You fill us with joy and love and you ask us to show and share this love with others. Jesus help us to understand the answer to our questions is you. We love you! Amen

 

Questions Jesus Asked (with commentary)