FredMcKinnon.Com

It’s my hope that one of the areas we’ll enjoy on the blog here in 2010 is increased discussion about God’s Word.

I believe that Matthew 5 is perhaps one of the more challenging chapters in the Bible.  Jesus’ teaching, “The Beatitudes”, and his explanation of what really constitutes sin ups the ante and is radical.

This morning, I’m especially stirred, challenged, and frankly, somewhat confused by this particular passage:

17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 5:17-20, ESV, emphasis mine, YouVersion.Com)

We are taught that as New Testament Christians, we are no longer bound by the Old Testament Law.  (think specifically of the Ten Commandments, though there are thousands of other laws and commandments throughout the OT)

Yet here, Jesus seems to be alluding to that very Law, and actually, goes further in the next verses making it even more substantial.  (Example:  don’t commit adultery, but now, if you even think lustfully about a woman, you’ve committed adultery with her).

Guilty.

The only way our righteousness would exceed that of the “scribes and Pharisees” is by grace.  But Jesus doesn’t mention that at all in this passage.  He’s clearly speaking of keeping the rules.

So how does that play out?  Paul will teach us throughout the New Testament that we are not under law, but under grace.  Yet Jesus’ words here challenge us that “keeping the rules” is vital.

What are your thoughts?  Please add to the discussion below by leaving  a comment.

34 And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.
(Mark 5:45, ESV – YouVersion.Com)

I’m reading through Mark in my “Daily Reader” program right now, but I’m taking my time in this book.  It’s so easy to rush through the Bible once you’ve read through it a few times.  You assume “I’ve read that already”.  I found myself thinking that as I was reading the story of the “woman with the issue of blood” in Mark, chapter 5.

As I meditated on Jesus’ response to the woman, confessing that she was the one who had touched him, I noticed a few things:

1.  He calls her Daughter.  It’s capitalized.  Not woman, not lady, not child … but Daughter.  I think that is significant.
2.  It was her faith that brought about her healing.  Of course, the power went out of Jesus, He’s the source of healing.  But it was her faith that activated it.
3.  As he sends her on her way, he says “and be healed of your disease”.  It’s almost as if He is saying “don’t stop believing, don’t forget about it now – be constantly in faith, vigorous, and continue to walk in this healing”.  Like that as she goes, she should keep that healed condition.  Maybe if the symptoms could return, maybe she would fight wars in her mind about it coming back … and that’s why He told her “go AND BE HEALED” (but she was already healed).

Do you ever ask yourselves these kinds of questions as you study God’ Word?

I’m being challenged every day as I read through the Book of Mark.  This morning I encountered the story in Mark 2 where the religious leaders challenged Jesus and His disciples because they “plucked heads of grain” on the Sabbath.  Jesus responded by saying “27 And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”  (Mark 2: 27-28, ESV – YouVersion.Com)

It seems that Jesus’ response wasn’t challenging the existence of the “sabbath” so much; rather, He was challenging the layers of legalistic rules and regulations that the religious leaders applied to it.

Fast-forward to New Testament, modern-day Christianity.  What is our view of the “Sabbath”?

Immediately all of the church lingo comes to mind “every day is now a Sabbath”, “Jesus has become our Sabbath”, “the Sabbath was fulfilled on the cross”, etc. Blah, blah, blah – you see, I’ve been in church since I was steaming up my own diapers … I can quote all of the religious responses.  (and let me interject that I’m not trying to suggest that all of those responses are wrong!)

But this is my confession.  “I’m not sure I really understand all of those religious responses and how they truly apply”.

“Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy” is one of the Ten Commandments.  That means it’s important.  If that no longer applies, how about murder and adultery?  Are they no longer relevant?

I am not trying to wander back into the legalistic rules of the Old Covenant – God knew we could never keep those to begin with.  We needed the “Law” so that we could see our sin.  I do wonder if we carelessly throw it out completely, though.

I’d like your input.  What do you believe about “keeping the sabbath holy”?  Do you practice “sabbath” – and if so, what does it look like?  If you scroll down a bit, you’ll see “Leave a Reply” …  and that’s where YOU come into this discussion.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28: 19-20, ESV – YouVersion.Com)

These are some of the final words Jesus had with His disciples.  It’s the last two verses of the book of Matthew.  What were His last words?  What was his final wish?

He told us to “go”.  Make disciples of ALL nations.

As I meditate on those words this morning I’m deeply convicted.  I am a full-time, professional “Christian”.  I work for the “church”.  Yet, when I evaluate how I spend my time and energy, very little of it is “going” to make disciples.

I dunno – maybe that’s not true.  I spend hours upon hours every week in prayer, reading, study, and conversations … coming up with ways to make our worship services at SSCC a place where the Believer can be edified, while creating a space where the Seeker can come to know Jesus.  We strive to create a space where the lost can be found, and where the found can be discipled into a greater understanding of God’s plan for their lives.

But that’s all part of the job, right?  How about those of us who don’t work for the church.  The real heroes – the Christians out there in the workplace, doing the jobs, rubbing elbows with those “in the world” all day.

One thing is for sure … this culture we live in has us all “going”.  But how can we add the “and make disciples” to our “going”?

Would love your thoughts!
Fred

14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering.15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives.
(Exodus 30:14-15, ESV, YouVersion.Com)

I couldn’t help but think about the big “fair tax” debate these days when I read this.

What if our “taxes” we paid to our government was like an “offering” to our country …. and this principle applied.  A fair, fixed, flat-rate, set amount … the rich aren’t required to give more, the poor aren’t asked to give less … everybody pays the same amount …

I certainly don’t want a nasty debate on my blog, but I am definitely curious … why was it that God used that standard during the census and the atonement offering?