Rom. 14:14-23, No Unnecessary Stumbling Stones

The previous posts brought attention to another family of words for “stumbling.” 

proskoptō (verb): to strike against, to stumble

·       Mat 4:6; Lk. 4:11: Satan to Jesus, quoting Ps. 91:11-12, that God will protect Him “let you dash your foot against a stone.”

·       Mat 7:27: the winds blew and beat on the foolish man’s house.

·       Jhn 11:9: Jesus says, If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

·       Jhn 11:10: “if one walks in the night, he stumbles, bec. the light is not in him.”

·       Rom 9:32: Jews stumbled at that stumbling stone.

·       Rom 14:21: good not to do anything by which your brother stumbles

·       1Pe 2:8: Israel stumbled because of disobedience to the word

proskopé (noun): to do something which causes others to stumble

·       2Co 6:3: Paul: We give no offense in anything, that our ministry not blamed.

proskomma (noun): an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls

·       Rom 9:32: Jews stumbled at that stumbling stone.

·       Rom 9:33: Quoting Isaiah, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

·       Rom 14:13: resolve not to put a stumbling block in our brother’s way.

·       Rom 14:20: All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

·       1Co 8:9: beware lest your liberty become a stumbling block to the weak.

·       1Pe 2:8: “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.”

The two families of words are used quite often in the same passage.  There is a difference as to the type of offense they describe.  Skandalon has the idea of a trap or an enticement of some sort.  Proskomma refers to a stone or other immoveable impediment on which you stub your toe.  Both result in a fall.  It is a matter of concern.  First, there is the gospel issue.  Sinful or disobedient men stumble at the good news.  Nevertheless, we cannot renege on the preaching of the gospel.  We should ask the Lord to convict men of their need by the Holy Spirit.  On the other hand, we ought not put unnecessary obstacles in the way of anyone, whether in the presentation of the gospel or in our relationships with brothers in Christ.

Mt. 13:18-23, Walking in Love Without Stumbling

Jesus does not seek to cause offense with His disciples.  The problem is that the truth is often offensive to sinful people. 

skandalizō (verb): to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend

·       Mat 5:29,30; Mt. 18:8,9; Mk. 9:43,45,47: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out … if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off.

·       Mat 11:6; Lk. 7:23: “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

·       Mat 13:21; Mk. 4:17: when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

·       Mat 13:57; Mk. 6:3: At Nazareth they were offended at Jesus. (Was this Jesus’ fault? No!  As He said, “a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

·       Mat 15:12: Disciples tell Jesus the Pharisees were offended at what He said.

·       Mat 17:27: Jesus pays temple tax for Himself & Peter “lest we offend them.”  (Illustrates the thought for believers that we should not unnecessarily offend others.  The gospel is offensive and we must not back off from boldly declaring the good news.  But we can show discretion and remove some offensive things.)

·       Mat 18:6; Mk. 9:42; Lk. 17:2: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin better he should be put to death.

·       Mat 24:10: Olivet Discourse, “many will be offended.”

·       Mat 26:31; Mk. 14:27: Quoting Zech. 13:7, Jesus warns disciples “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night.

·       Mt 26:33; Mk. 14:29: Peter: “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

·       Jhn 6:61: Jesus asks disciples if what He said offended them.

·       Jhn 16:1: What words in Upper Room so they would not be made to stumble.

·       Rom 14:21: Believers ought not do anything to cause brother to stumble (proskoptō) or be offended or made weak .

·       1Co 8:13: …if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

·       2Co 11:29: Paul says, “Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”

Rom. 16:17-20, The Scandal of the Cross

There are those who do evil.  Then, there are those who cause others to do evil.  In the OT the latter were called “workers of iniquity.”  Today, the noun: the trap, enticement, stumbling block that encourages others to sin.  Tomorrow, the verb.

skandalon (noun): trap, enticement, that which gives offense

·       Mt 13:14: angels will weed out at judgement all that cause sin (offend), and those who do evil.  (In other words, God’s justice recognizes both the sinner and the one who encourages others to join in sin.)

·       Mt 16:23: to Peter: get behind me Satan, you are a stumbling block.  (Interesting: Peter was the stumbling block to the Lord, a tool in Satan’s hands, to keep Him from the cross.)

·       Mt 18:7abc: Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes (Lk 17:1).  (Again, God’s judgment is accurate.  All sin is judged, but the workers of iniquity bear greater judgment.)

·       Ro 9:33: Christ is the stone that causes men to stumble (proskommatos), rock that makes them fall.  (Make sure you see what this says.  Christ does not cause them to fall, but He is the stumbling stone over which they call.  1 Pt. 2:8 below quotes this same Isaiah passage and then explains that they stumble because they are disobedient to the word of the Gospel.)

·       Ro 11:9: David: may their table become a stumbling block (from Ps. 69, an imprecatory section of that great Messianic Psalm.)

·       Ro 14:13: make up your mind not to put stum. blk (proskomma) or obstacle in brother's way (here the “offense” is some non-heretical issue that causes a weaker or younger brother to stumble).

·       Rom 16:17: watch out for those who cause division, put obstacles in way (divisive people cause an offense, just by their divisiveness).

·       1Cor 1:23: Christ crucified is a stumbling block to Jews (see above, Rom. 9:33).

·       Gal 5:11: offense of cross abolished if Paul preaches circumcision. (If we preach a gospel of works we take away what is offensive to people.  But, of course, they won’t be saved if they seek Christ by works.)

·       1 Pt. 2:8: “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

·       1 Jn 2:10: he who loves brother lives in light, nothing to make him stumble.  (Again, people stumble over Christ because they do not walk in the light.)

·       Rev 2:14: Balaam taught Balak to entice Israel to sin.  (Balaam’s idea of enticing Israelites to immorality with the people of Moab brought about God’s judgment on Israel.)

Lk. 1:46-55, God Gives Grace to the Humble!

Humility is, literally, lowliness.

tapeinos: low, lowly

·       Mt 11:29: Christ is gentle & humble in heart (take my yoke upon you).  (If we want to understand humility/lowliness, the perfect picture is Jesus.  When HE said “follow Me” He was humble.  When He turned over the tables in the temple He was humble.  He is the epitome of humility.  See Phil. 2:8 below!

·       Lk 1:52: God has brot down rulers fr. thrones & exalted the humble. (These are the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in her song of praise.  It begins with these words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”  Her “situation” was a means to magnify the Lord.  And she knew she needed the Savior, the One who through her would enter this world.)

·       Rom 12:16: don't be haughty but associate w/the lowly.  (Lowly people associate with those who are lowly in the eyes of the world.)

·       2 Co 7:6: God, who comforts the depressed (NASV) comforted us.  (Why not translate this “lowly.”  It’s same word.  “Depressed” or even “downcast” makes it sound like people with some disease.  It’s not a disease.  It is human nature.)

·       2 Co 10:1: Paul who is meek when face to face but bold when absent.  (Paul was a humble man when in Corinth.  Thus, some mistook this lowliness as being weak or even uncertain.  They accused him of only being bold when at a distance.  Men to this day misunderstand Christ in this.  They take His humility as weakness.  The fact that He died is the greatest “weakness.”  How they need the Spirit to convict them that they might know Him in truth.)

·       Jas 1:9: let bro in humble circumstances glory in his high position.

·       Jas 4:6: God opposes proud, gives grace to humble (1 Pt 5:5).  (This is the universal principle.  God does not give grace to those who treat it as if it was their strength.  He did not call many mighty but those who are humble.)

tapeinoō: lower, make low

·       Mt 18:4: whoever humbles self as this child is greatest in K (another illus.).

·       Mt 23:12ab: whoever exalts self shall be humbled; he who humbles self will be exalted (Lk 14:11ab; 18:14ab).  A universal principle.  God ALWAYS does this.

·       Lk 3:5: every mountain shall be brought low (when Christ rules!)

·       2Co 11:7: Paul preaching w/o charge humbled self so they'd be exalted

·       2 Cor 12:21: Paul fears God will humiliate him when he comes to them

·       Phil 2:8: Christ humbled self.  (The incarnation.  God humbled Himself and came to earth!)

·       Phil 4:12: Paul can get along in humble means or in prosperity

·       1 Pt 5:6: humble selves under God's mighty hand, he'll exalt in due time. Amen!

Heb. 11:23-29, To Go You Must Leave!

In the Psalms of Ascents (Ps. 120-134), before the pilgrim could begin his journey to the house of the LORD (121-122) he had to leave where he was (120).  You can’t set out on a journey unless you are willing to leave where you are.  Our “leaving behind” experiences are “spiritual” experiences.  Am I just running from problems I should face?  Is the LORD accompanying me in this move?

kataleipō: to leave behind

·       Mt 4:13: Jesus left Nazareth to live in Capernaum. (Several times it is used of a simple “left this place to go to that place.”  In each there is the issue of God’s leading: am I done here? Does God want me there?  My wife and I moved from one home to another 8x over the years.  Each was a spiritual decision. Jesus left Nazareth because of rejection; the Spirit led Him to Capernaum.)

·       Mt 16:4: Jesus leaves Pharisees, crosses sea

·       Mt 19:5; man shall leave father, mother (Gn 2:24; Mk 10:7; Eph 5:31). (This is a heart issue.  It doesn’t always involve a major geographical move.)

·       Mt 21:17: Jesus left Jerusalem, went to Bethany

·       Mk 12:19: Sadducees ask if man die & leave a wife, etc. (Death is a leaving behind that will happen but at an unknown time.  How much should you prepare for it?  But at what point must you put it in God’s hands?)

·       Mk 14:52: man left linen & fled naked.  (Ultimately all the disciples left Jesus.  Paul experienced this, 2 Tim. 4:16.  Leaving one place severs ties with those with whom we are comfortable and leaves us on our own, WITH THE LORD.)

·       Lk 5:28: Matthew left all, followed Jesus.  (Discipleship is leaving behind.)

·       Lk 10:40: Mary had left Martha alone serving. (Important: leaving what is important but not the most important.  Leaving involves God-directed priorities.)

·       Lk 20:31: Sadducees: wife & 7 bros left no children

·       Jn 8:9: Jesus left alone w/adulteress.

·       Ac 18:19: Paul left friends at Ephesus & went into synagogue

·       Ac 21:3: on voyage, they left Cypress, sailed to Syria

·       Ac 24:27: Felix left Paul bound

·       Rom 11:4: God had 7000 true believers left in Elijah's day

·       1 Th 3:1: Paul left alone at Athens.  (The result here was Paul had unique opportunities to serve the Lord.)

·       Tit 1:5: Titus left in Crete for certain job

·       Hb 4:1: a promise is left us of entering into rest.  (A promise was left behind or remains.  Jesus ascended to heaven but left a promise to return.

·       Hb 11:27: Moses, by faith, left Egypt.  (Leaving is always a faith issue.)

·       2Pt 2:15: false teachers have left the right way, gone way of Balaam.  (Not all “leaving” is good.)

Psalm 75

Three motivations drive Satanic temptation: the lust of the flesh (do what feels good), the lust of the eyes (find happiness in possessions) and the pride of life (aim to be #1).  This Psalm concerns the last one.  In the Garden of Eden the hook was baited with the thought, You can be like God!  They fell for it (Gen. 3:5-6)!  Jesus was tempted to greatness sooner than later by throwing Himself off the top of the temple pinnacle.  He resisted it!  His answer to the easier, quicker path to greatness was, You shall not tempt the Lord your God (Matt. 4:7).

The simple truth of this Psalm undergirds everything the Bible says to us about greatness.  It all has to do with God!  Exaltation and humiliation is from Him.  It doesn’t come from east (lit. the rising of the sun), west (lit. the setting of the sun) or south (lit. the desert).  Rather it is of God.  The boastful wicked will surely drink and drain down the cup of God, from the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God (Rev. 19:15).  And why?  Because in His temple everyone cries “Glory” (Psalm 29:9)!

Jesus both lived and taught the truth of this Psalm.  His humanity was lived in full trust in God who exalts the humble and humbles the exalted.  The Father promised to exalt the Son (Psalm 2:4-6 and many other passages).  Yet the Son was called to the ultimate humiliation of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:5-8).  But in His suffering He entrusted Himself to God as to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19).  And, at the proper time of God’s choosing (Psa. 75:2) He was highly exalted, given a Name above every name with every knee in the universe bowed before Him (Phil. 2:9-11).  Jesus taught His disciples to live in the same manner.  Rather than the audacity of lording it over others He called us instead to be servants and slaves (Matt. 20:25-28).  The exaltation is left to God!

The temptation to self-exaltation is everywhere.  Today at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem (where we are currently located) I was asked to prepare communion for one person.  We commonly prepare elements for the Lord’s Table for groups desiring to share together.  But why one person?  The Lord’s Table is a Body of Christ observance.  Even Jesus did not celebrate it alone.  When I arrived with the elements I discovered it was a photo op.  The cameraman was there to record one lady eating the bread and drinking the cup, alone. 

But she was not alone in the Garden today in what appeared to be the search for greatness.  I also struggle with the temptation called the pride of life.  The demonic tendencies of envy and self-seeking (James 3:16) long to wrest control of my thoughts and deeds from the Man from heaven.  How wonderful when, by the grace of God, I am content to sing praises to the God of Jacob (Ps. 75:9). That’s when we have it right: when we live to worship God.  Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due season (1 Peter 5:5).

1 Jn. 4:12-19, Perfection: Becoming What God Intends (3)

John:

3. Jn.4:34: Jesus food is to do God's work, finish his work (John helps us see what is means for Jesus to be “perfected” by what He suffered; He did not become more “righteous” because He was never anything but that; but He did become what the Father intended in terms of His earthly life).

3. Jn.5:36: the works Christ was given to finish also bore witness to His deity

3. Jn.17:4: I have finished work you gave me to do.

3. Jn.17:23: Jesus prays that we might be perfected in unity

3. Jn.19:28: Jesus knew all was done so Scripture might be fulfilled

3. 1 Jn.2:5: the obedient Christian has God's love perfected in him

33. I Jn.4:12,17: those who love one another are perfected in love

13. I Jn.4:18: perfect love casts out fear; he who fears has not been perfected in love

Note: idea of process is necessary here as love & unity don't simply come to be a part of the Christian at salvation but are seen as part of growth. Likewise, in the prayer of Christ, unity is seen as an objective or end, though the mystical unity with God is a fact at salvation.  Understanding this helps us see that 1 John is a letter about fellowship, not justification, which is what he says in the beginning, 1:1-4.

Synoptic Gospels and Acts:

11. Mt.5:48: be perfect as God is perfect. Has idea of completion if the context is studied: God is complete in that he gives rain to righteous & unr, we are to love all the righteous as well as the unr; we are to do more than the Gentiles morally.

1. Mk.19:21: the young man kept all the law but to be perfect had to go, sell, give.  Surely the man had not been sinless but kept law, making sacrifice for forgiveness, etc.  He needed a change of heart, to be born again, which would be manifested in the use of his money.

5. Lk 1:45: Mary believed, thus will be a fulfillment (completion, what is currently unseen and impossible will become real).

3. Lk.2:43: days fulfilled, Jesus parents return from Jerusalem (again, the “fulfilled” term is not as correct as “complete;” when the feast days were finished they returned from Jerusalem; the feast was being fulfilled until it was completed).

3. Lk.13:32: Jesus wanted Herod to know that he would be in town 2 more days before he was "finished".

3. Ac.20:24: Paul: my life is nothing if only I can finish course w/joy

Note: again idea of completion is prominent as is the idea of an end.

This all reminds us that we are at some stage of “maturation.”  We have come to the cross of Christ and taken up our cross to follow Him.  We are a drink offering poured out for His glory.  Our need is to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith until the day we enter into the presence of Christ (2 Tim. 4:6-8).