Walk on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)

“But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. [ego eimi {Gk}] Don’t be afraid.'” “'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Mt 14:27, 29).

1. Do you intentionally create space for solitude and prayer in your daily schedule (Mt 14:22-23; 1 Th 5:17)?
• Are you more likely to pray before a crisis or when you’re already in one?

Compassion and Responsibility (Matthew 14:13-21)

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (Mt 14:14). "You give them something to eat" (Mt 14:16).

1.   What events immediately precede this miracle (Mt 14:8-12)?

• What might Jesus have felt (Isa 53:3)?
• How did he respond (Mt 14:13-14)?
• What does this show about him (Mt 9:36; 15:32)?
• Do you serve others when you’re hurting?
• How does the God of the Bible differ from the "gods" of other religions (Mt 11:29)?
• Do you have more compassion for God or for people (specifically or in general)? For God or for your family and friends (Mt 22:37-39; 10:37)?

The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:24-43)

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field" (Mt 13:24).

1. How did Jesus explain The Parable of the Weeds (Mt 13:24-25, 30, 36-39, 40-43)?
2. How is the kingdom of heaven like a man who sows good seed (Mt 13:24, 3, 19, 37; 4:17)?
• Are you like the "the man who sowed good seed" (Mt 13:24, 37)? How (Lk 9:60; 1 Cor 1:22-23; 2:2, 2)?
  
3. Do you "write off" some people as a "weed" (Mt 13:28)?
   
• Do you judge and decide who is "in" and who is "out" (1 Sam 16:7; Jn 7:24)?

Lofty Love is to Love God and Others (Matthew 22:36-40)

Full quote below.

"Teacher, which is the greatest cpmmandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Mt 22:36-40).

Jesus' core teaching is that love for God and love for neighbor are the inseparable foundation of all Scripture (Mt 22:37-40).

Paradox (Matthew 10:37-42)

Full quote below.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it" (Mt 10:39).

1. Priority / Allegiance / Exclusivity /Preeminence. Why does Jesus' command you to love Him more than your family (Mt 10:37; 22:37-38; Dt 6:5; Lk 14:26)?
   
• Does this contradict the command to "Honor your father and mother" (Exo 20:12)? Why or why not?

Live Free Without Fear (Matthew 10:26-33)

Live Free, Leave Fear. 12th Sun in Ordinary Time.

"So do not be afraid of them..." (Mt 10:26). "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body..." (Mt 10:28). "So don't be afraid..." (Mt 10:31).

• What do you (people) fear?
• Being lonely? Disliked? Unpopular? Critized?
• Not loved? Honored? Acknowledged? Recognized? Given credit?
• Being insignificant? Ignored? Betrayed? Taken for granted?

Give Up Your Donkey, Your Cloak and Your Expectation (Matthew 21:1-11)

"If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them..." (Mt 21:3).

• "Discipleship means following the man on the donkey all the way." Donald English, United Methodist minister.

1. What “donkey” (possession, privacy, time, comfort) is God asking you to release for His use (Mt 21:1-2)? Why is this difficult?
• How dare God demand this of you (Mt 21:3; Dt 10:14; Ps 24:1; 50:10-12; Jer 10:23; 1 Cor 6:19-20)?

Overview of Lent

John 4:5-29 [Week 3; 3/8/26]

Week 1: Overcoming  (Mt 4:1-11 Jesus’ Temptation). 1st Sun of Lent (2/22/26).

• Read Mt 4:4,7,&10.  How did Jesus overcome temptation?  How did Jesus succeed where we had failed?  Even though we are not perfect like Jesus, how can we learn overcoming faith?  How can fasting help us seek Jesus?

Week 2: Mercy  (Jn 3:1-17 Jesus Helps Nicodemus). 2nd Sun of Lent (3/1/26).

• Read Jn 3:16-17.  How did Jesus show patience and mercy to a self-righteous Pharisee named Nicodemus?  What does it mean to be “Born Again”, and why do we need Jesus’ mercy to embark newly on a spiritual journey to God’s kingdom? (Gn 12:1-4)

Be Happy Attitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3). "How blissful the destitute, abject in spirit..." [...a poor man or beggar, but with the connotation of one who is abject: cowering or cringing.]

1. How were "the crowds" and "(h)is disciples" different (Mt 5:1; 7:24-25; Jn 8:31).
• What is the repeated theme and emphasis of what Jesus taught (Mt 5:2, 3, 10, 12; 4:17; 6:10)?

Come (Matthew 11:28)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28).

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustine, Confessions.

1. What does Jesus' invitation mean to you (Mt 11:28)? If you are not invited, can you freely come to God (Isa 59:2)? 
• Why does Thomas Kempis say, "You are the Holy of Holies and I am sinful trash"?
• Why might you become "weary and burdened" (Isa 40:31; Eph 4:18, 19; Col 1:21)?
• What does it mean that Jesus "will give you rest" (Jn 14:27; Phil 4:7; Rom 5:1; Isa 26:3)?
• Why are people who seek rest still restless (Gen 4:7, 14; Job 3:26; Isa 59:8)?

Day 12 Advent, 12/15/23: A Friend of the Socially Unacceptable (Mt 11:19)

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners'" (Mt 11:19).

The flute symbolizes joy, and the dirge symbolizes mourning. By complaining that their playmates did not participate in their games (Mt 11:16-17), the children were saying that they were not happy or sad but unresponsive or indifferent. Jesus uses this parable as a rebuke to the Bible teachers and Pharisees. They complained about both John the Baptist and Jesus. John's fasting was too strict, rigid and legalistic (Mt 11:18), while Jesus' dining habits were too lenient, liberal and socially unacceptable (Mt 11:19). But in reality, they judged and rejected the teachings of both John and Jesus based on their own criteria, biases, expectations and preferences.

Day 13, 12/16/23: The Son of Man is Going to Suffer

"...the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands" (Matthew 17:13).

Jesus tells his disciples that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Elijah's return as Jesus' forerunner (Mt 17:10-13; Mal 4:5-6). And as they did unjustly to John [beheading], they would do to him (Mt 17:12; 16:21). The reason John was executed was because he proclaimed repentance (Mt 3:1-2), the message of "turning your life over to a higher power."

Day 11 of Advent, 12/14/23: A Gentle Forcefulness (Mt 11:12)

Violent men forcefully take hold of the Kingdom of Heaven. My preferred translation of the ambiguous Matthew 11:12 is from the 1984 NIV (which differs from the current 2011 NIV): "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful [violent] men lay hold of it." ["...the enforcers snatch it" (Scot McKnight's translation)]

I've shared often that I have a Type A personality, which is ABCD: aggressive / aggravating, brutal / blunt, confrontational / confounding and doggedly determined (i.e. stubbornly stone headed, as my pastor had told me decades ago!). Last week a friend said that he prefers a Type C (Christ) personality, which I interpret as "consecrated and conformed to the character of Christ." Yes, I desire Type C, but unfortunately my Type A within me dies hard, or even refuses to die as it resurfaces time and again.

Day 10 of Advent, 12/13/23: I am Gentle and Humble (Mt 11:29)

How gentle am I? That is a very tough question for me to face and answer.

Matthew 11:29 is the only time Jesus describes himself, describes his own inner man, in the Bible. The Greek for "gentle" means meek and mild, but not in a weak way. It means "strength under control," like a wild stallion that has been tamed. The Greek for "lowly" means humble or low in status, like a servant. He is unselfish and thoughtful. Chuck Swindoll says, "We are never more like Christ than when we fit into His description of Himself: gentle and humble."

Day 7 of Advent, 12/9/2023: The Laborers are Few (Mt 9:37)

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Mt 9:37-38).

Jesus instructs Christians to pray for laborers for the harvest (Mt 9:38) and for disciples to heal and evangelize others (Mt 10:1, 7-8). Matthew concludes his gospel by saying, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to obey everything" (Mt 28:19). Thus, everything that I decide and choose to do should be somehow related to evangelism, i.e., winning others for Christ and his kingdom.

• I pray that my life, lifestyle, choices, and morals may reflect Christ and the holiness of God (Rom 8:29; Heb 12:10).
• In my older years (Ps 92:14) I pray to live a life of repentance (Ps 51:1-4; Mk 1:15).
• I pray to learn and/or re-learn a life of prayer, piety and purity so that God can use me to somehow influence others (Ps 51:13), even the next generation (Ps 22:30).

First Week of Advent

Matthew 9:35—10:1, 5a, 6–8

Friends, today Jesus instructs us to pray for laborers for the harvest, for disciples to do the work of evangelization. We need to organize our lives around evangelization. Everything we do ought to be related somehow to it. This doesn't mean that we all have to become professional evangelizers. Remember, you can evangelize by the moral quality of your life. But it does mean that nothing in our lives ought to be more important than announcing the victory of Jesus. We should think of others not as objects to be used, or annoying people in the way of realizing our projects, but rather as those whom we are called to serve. Instead of saying, "Why is this annoying person in my way?" we should ask, "What opportunity for evangelization has presented itself?" Has God put this person in your life precisely for this purpose?

Day 4 of Advent, 12/06/23: Give Away What You Receive (Mt 15:36-37)

"Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.  Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over" (Mt 15:36-37).

How should Christians Care for the Poor?

In the US, over 15 million children live in poverty, and 64 million people live at less than the minimum wage, including 54% of African Americans (2015 statistics). A 2011 study from Columbia University estimated that 250,000 Americans died each year from causes linked to poverty. While only 4 million tons of food are needed to feed all Americans, 46 million tons of food are thrown away each year in the US. There are an estimated 10 million homeless people in the US, but more than 12 million empty luxury housing units. Also, 2/3rd of all minimum wage workers are women, and many of these are heads of households.

OT texts frequently bid us to care for widows, orphans, and sojourners (Exo 22:21-22, 23:6, 9; Lev 23:22; Deut 10:18, 14:29, 15:9, 24:7, 14, 19, 26:12-13, 27:19; Ps 68:5, 72:4, 146:9; Prov 15:25, 22:22; Job 29:12, 31:16; Isa 1:17, 23, 10:1-2, 58:10; Jer 5:28, 7:6, 22:3, 16; Eze 16:49, 22:7, 29; Am 4:11; Zech 7:10, also Mk 12:40; Jas 1:27). In the Gospels, 1 out of every 10 verses is about the poor, and in James, 1 verse in every 5. We can't avoid reflecting on what Scripture says about the poor.

Jesus's words "the poor you will always have with you" (Matthew 26:11) are regularly used to suggest that ending poverty is impossible, that poverty is a result of moral failures, and that the poor themselves have no role in changing their situation. But  "the poor you will always have with you" is actually one of the strongest biblical mandates to end poverty. 

Chiasm of Matthew 6:24

• A. No one can serve two masters. 
• B. Either you will hate the one 
• C. and love the other, 
• C'. or you will be devoted to the one 
• B'. and despise the other. 
  
• A'. You cannot serve both God and money.
  

A chiasm is like a sandwich with the bread on the outside, the lettuce and pickles next and the patty (chicken, beef, fish) in the center.

What is the chiasm structure saying?

• C/C' the center essentially asks, "Who/what do you love and are devoted to?"
• A/A' on the outside makes a statement of truth.
• B/B' is the contrast of C/C'.

Chiastic structures are the "hidden" beauty of Hebrew narrative and poetry.

Gentle, Meek and Humble (Matthew 11:29)

Taking up Jesus' yoke and burden doesn't give you freedom from suffering, but a freedom from self, which to say the least is suffocating.

Taking up Jesus' yoke is also to give up control over your life and over others. You think you have safety and security when you're in control. Yet the precise opposite is true. Wanting control is to play God over your life and the lives of others, which God never intends. Acting in control is the root of sin [for you think you're in control and in charge like God] and will only bring disappointment, despair, despondency, desperation and destruction.

If you're gentle, meek, humble and accommodating in heart toward others, you'll be a lot more peaceful and the world--including the church--will be a much better place.

Be Perfect in Showing Mercy (Matthew 18:21-35)

"When we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with Christ, it will be possible to remain flexible without being relativistic, convinced (absolute) without being rigid, willing to confront without being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft and true witnesses without being manipulative." Henri Nouwen.

Lectionary text [5/10/2020]: Psalm 31:1-16; John 14:1-14

Jesus as Teacher. Matthew incorporates almost all of Mark's Gospel, but in 5 places he inserts extensive blocks of teaching (5:1-7:27; 10:5-42; 13:1-52; 18:1-35; 23:1-25:46). The end of each of these 5 sections says, "When Jesus had finished [etelesen] these words..." This accentuates Jesus' role as authoritative teacher. At the conclusion of TSOM "the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes/teachers of the law" (Mt 7:28-29).

• Why were people not moved [disinterested, turned off] by the way the religious leaders taught the Bible?

• How does Matthew end his Gospel (Mt 28:18-20)? What is the mandate of the "great commission"? 

• How does this ground the life and mission of the church (Mt 7:24-25)? 
• Why is training necessary if we want to follow Jesus (Mt 13:52; 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Cor 7:1; 2 Pet 1:5-8)?

• Is there a system to discipleship? What is the goal of discipleship?

• Is the community of the church necessary for one to follow Jesus? Can one follow Jesus without being trained in the community of the church?  

Jesus' Hard Teaching:

• "Be perfect" (Mt 5:48). Christians don't make excuses: "I'm only human." "I'm still a sinner." "No one's perfect."

• "...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:20).

• "...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Mt 28:20). No way around teaching obedience. Teaching must be exemplified.

• "...every teacher...who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven..brings out...new treasures as well as old" (Mt 13:52). Am I a one trick pony?

• "...love your enemies" (Mt 5:44). Seriously?

• "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them" (Mt 6:1). Why do we like to show off our righteousness?

• "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Mt 9:13; 12:7; Hos 6:6).

• "But you have neglected the more important [weightier] matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness" (Mt 23:23).

• "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private" (Mt 18:15, NASB). Why is this straight forward instruction hard to do?

• "...forgive...from your heart" (Mt 18:35).

Gospel and Christology [The Moral Vision of the NT, Richard Hays]:

• Taking Up the Cross [Crucified Messiah] (Mark)

• Training for the Kingdom of Heaven [Teacher] (Matthew)

• Liberation through the Power of the Spirit [The Spirit of the Lord is upon me] (Luke-Acts)

• Loving One Another [Man from heaven] (John and Epistles)

Some thoughts & reflections:

• The problem is NOT the problem.

• Obedience [keeping the Law] {being right} and disobedience [breaking the Law] {being wrong} are NOT "gospel categories," since EVERYONE disobeys [breaks the Law] {is wrong}. Thus...

• Pointing out that someone is sleeping around or not sleeping around is NOT what helps anyone to change or repent.

• Watching porn or not watching porn is NOT the change that should be sought.

• Being great(er) or having no ambition whatever is not the problem. [Hard working or lazy. Accomplished or underachieving.]