Follow my Lead

My grandpa used to jokingly tell us to, 'do as I say, not as I do'. I wonder if he knew this teaching was scriptural.  Jesus pointed to the Pharisees and shared; "The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer. (Matthew 23:2-3 MSG)

We are to lead by example and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Our walk must match our talk. As sinners, we will struggle with this, feeling unworthy - which we are. But with practice and faithful study of God's Word, we will be disciples that others will turn to and learn from.

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. (Matthew 13:4-6)

Jesus taught using stories. The Matthew text for today is about the farmer sowing seed on the different types of terrain and the pursuant growth or lack of. We also can teach others by our story. Often, it is our own story which will impact others. We need to get accustomed to telling the story that God has been preparing. Our joys and our sorrows are all part of a Disciples' story/testimony.

Matthew 13:1-6

All the Right Questions

Jeopardy! is a TV game show I have watched periodically since I was a kid.  Art Fleming was the host when I was younger and Alex Trabeck is the current host. The game is fun to watch because I can see how many of the questions I can come up with as the contestants play.

 

Back in 2004 Ken Jennings won 74 straight games of Jeopardy!.  His streak is the longest in Jeopardy! history and he won over two and half million dollars during this time.

 

Ken obviously is very smart and seemed to always have all the right questions. Alex Trabeck rarely caught him making a mistake!

 

One could say that Jennings is Lord of Jeopardy!

 

Today’s reading is Matthew 12:1-11. The Pharisees had been following Jesus and the disciples. Experts in Jewish Law, they were trying to catch Jesus breaking the Law.

 

It was the Sabbath, the day Jewish people, according to the Pharisees, were not to do any work whatsoever.  The disciples were gleaning in a field to eat some grain. The Pharisees caught Jesus and his disciples working, since gleaning (picking the leftovers after a harvest) was considered work.

 

Jesus responded to the Pharisees' accusation with a question, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?” Jesus went on to verbally demonstrate the error of the Pharisees’ ways.

 

Later that day, in the synagogue, the Pharisees accused Jesus of working when he healed a man’s shriveled hand. Like before, Jesus responded with a question. “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?”

 

Again, Jesus went on to demonstrate the error in the ways of the Pharisees.

 

Like Ken Jennings, Jesus had all the right questions for the Pharisees. Unlike Jennings, Jesus never was defeated, nor will he ever be defeated.

 

Jennings may be Lord of Jeopardy!, but Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath!

John 3:1-15

Have you ever been afraid to do something you really wanted to do because you feared what everyone else might think?  Has fear, or perhaps pride, kept you from fulfilling a dream or goal because your friends might think you weird?

Nicodemus made an appointment to see Jesus and talk with Him.  Isn't it ironic he schedules a time to visit the Light during the nighttime. The Light of the world is willing to talk to Nicodemus in the cover of darkness to calm is fears. Nicodemus is afraid of what the other Pharisees will say and/or think if they knew he was talking with this scoundrel, Jesus.

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (John 3:1-2)

Jesus told Nicodemus something that really made him question things all the more.  He told Nicodemus he had to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again" (John 3:3)  Nicodemus wanted to know how this could be, how could he enter the womb a second time.

Jesus went on to teach Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit with these words: "Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5)  

We can tell from this Scripture teaching that the concept of the Holy Spirit is difficult to understand or grasp. As mere humans, without the wisdom the Holy Spirit imparts, we are powerless to "get it". Let's keep studying and reading and calling upon the Spirit to come to us every day.

Read the text, John 3:1-15, here.

Pharisee Behavior - Matthew 22:41-23:12

I can remember a time when, as a child, I would question my father's authority. Sunday mornings he would be instructing my sister and I to "eat your breakfast and get dressed or you will be late for church."

I often turned to him and asked, "Why should we? You don't go to church."

His response was always, "Do as I say, not as I do." End of discussion.

Now, granted, it would have been ideal if dad had joined us every Sunday at church, but that doesn't take away from the fact that his instructions to us were sound. We needed to go to church, it was important that we learned to observe Sunday as an important day.

I hear Jesus saying the same thing to the crowds in these two verses. "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." (Matthew 23:2-3)

Jesus knew the Pharisees understood the scriptures and they knew what was right, they just did not practice what they preached. Have you ever experienced this? Have there been times in your life when you knew better, in fact you even believed otherwise, but your behavior did not reflect your knowledge?

To read all of the text for today go to Biblegateway here.

Be On Your Guard- Matthew 16:1-12

“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6

I once went to hear a speaker, spouting a new theology, which a friend of mine was starting to believe. The teachings concerned me so I went, with my friend, to see for myself if the teachings were consistent with the Bible.

I was encouraged when the speaker opened up a time for questions, seemingly welcoming those struggling. I approached the microphone and asked the speaker to support his theology with scripture. Confidently smiling, he gave me a scripture that I immediately looked up and stated was clearly not being used in the correct context.

With a weak smile and even weaker rebuttal, he tried to pacify me. I questioned his use of scripture again. He then looked at me and, in front of the crowd said, “You are thick headed. I know what I am talking about, trust me.” Looking him straight in the face I replied, “I will never trust you; I only trust the word of God. Unless you can support your theology with scripture I will never believe a word you are saying.” With that I closed my Bible and walked out.

Jesus was warning his disciples against the false teachings of their religious leaders. I believe this message still pertains to us today. There are people who will lead us astray if we following their man made theology. The only real way to protect against this is to prayerfully be in the word. Read the Bible for yourself and pray about what you’re being taught against what you read.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 16:1-12

Care of Parents - Matthew 15:1-9

Do you know someone who has the habit of answering a question with a question? I find it annoying, but must admit considering other viewpoints or additional information helps me learn.

In today’s text, the Pharisees ask Jesus a question about tradition. He asks His own question pointing out that the Pharisees have more serious things to focus on than the tradition of washing hands before eating.

The Pharisees are sidestepping a commandment of God. They're to honor their father and mother by doing their best to take care of them in their old age. They claim what money they have is, "a gift devoted to God." Dedicating their money for religious purposes sounds very sincere and religious. However, it's used as an excuse for not caring for those in need. They worship God with their words. Their hearts aren't on God’s command, but on rules they have created. Further, they're leading others astray by teaching these rules!

In today’s text Jesus shows how humans invent, follow, and teach traditions that are their own; all at the expense of going against God’s commands. They worship with little hope.

How thankful I am for God’s Word! His word is complete and final. Jesus reminds me I don’t need to add or take anything away from Scripture, just obey it. This points out how essential it is to constantly read and study Scripture. I certainly don’t want to be led off track, nor lead myself or others away from what God says!

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Read today's text, Matthew 15:1-9 on Biblegateway.