Mark 2:1-12, Let’s Dialogue! Or Not! (1)

The Greek term dialogizomai (v) / dialogismos (n) we should understand.  The act of dialogue and the subject of a dialogue is something we do a lot.  We dialogue about the weather, politics, what to have for dinner, the Dodgers, religion, philosophy, and much more.  By definition “dialogue” requires 2 sides (two people, or two viewpoints in my brain, etc.).  A review of Scripture will show us that dialogue often (usually?) had a negative side.  The verb is defined as to consider, ponder, reason; consider & discuss, argue; the noun refers to a thought, opinion, reasoning, design; doubt, dispute, argument.

·       Mt 15:19; Mk. 7:21(nn): From the heart comes evil thoughts, and other things.  The first potential problem is that our “reasonings” may be faulty, concluding that we should make choices that are evil.  Remember that when this word is translated “thoughts” these are thoughts that we have after some degree of back-and-forth consideration in our minds.  Our hearts are sinful, thus our reasonings will tend towards sinful conclusions.  We might, for example, make lists of the positives and negatives about an issue, but forget that the general pride that pervades the natural mind has torpedoed the whole dialogue from the start.

·       Matt 16:7f; Mk. 8:16f(vvvv): Jesus’ disciples reasoned among selves about the "leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees"; Christ asks them why they reason about it.  Ah!  Here is a dialogue, among the disciples, that we sometimes call “pooling the ignorant.”  This happens often in discussions at “Bible” studies and Sunday School classes.  They were trying to figure out what Jesus was talking about without simply asking Jesus.  So Jesus entered the dialogue by Himself.

·       Matt: 21:25; Mk. 11:31(vv): Jesus asked the leaders about baptism of John, from "heaven or men"? They reasoned, "if we say this, etc, if we say that, etc."  Sometimes dialogue is faulty because we are limited to only two possible ideas.

·       Mark 2:6,8; Lk. 5:22(vvv): Jesus forgave the paralytic; some scribes reasoned among themselves how He could do this. Jesus perceived their reasoning.  This dialogue was good in the sense that it was prompted by Jesus, to get them to think.  It at least says they were listening and thinking. 

·       Mk 9:33(v): Jesus asked what His disciples had reasoned about (who is greatest).  Quite possibly this discussion was prompted by pride. 

·       Lk 2:35(n): Christ for falling and rising of many that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  This is a critically important passage.  Jesus was the “revealer of hearts,” and one major purpose of His teaching was to make people dialogue (with themselves and among themselves).  As you read the Gospels you should keep this in mind.  He made people think, and the outcome of their thinking reveals what is actually in their hearts.

(We will need another post to conclude this.)

Matt. 6:16-26, Heavenly and Earthly Storage Units

A sign of our problem with worldly lusts is the widespread construction of storage units.  They are all over the place.  And I say “worldly lusts” because while they often hold things of value or potential usefulness, they usually hold some of our excess toys, and things we may never use but just can’t let go of.  One of the great cartoons I have seen lately is the aged father and his son standing in front of a two-car garage, doors open and packed to the gills with stuff, and the father telling the worried son: “some day all this will be yours.” 

The problem is not the storage unit but the one who owns it.  So what are you storing up?  And for what purpose?  “Thèsauros” is the noun, the place where something is kept or the thing that is being kept; “thèsaurizō” is the verb (to store up, gather or store; we will note the verb; the other uses are the noun).  By the way, in English a “thesaurus” is a reference book with words listed in groups.

·       Mt 2:11: The wise men open their treasures: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

·       Mt 6:19, 20,21: don't lay up (v) treasures on earth but treasures in heaven where no moth, rust, thief is a problem. For where your treasure is there is your heart.

·       Mt 12:35; Lk 6:45: A good man out of good treasure of his heart brings forth good, the evil man brings forth evil from the evil treasure of his heart.

·       Mt 13:44: Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in field.

·       Mt 13:52: A teacher of the Kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out treasure, things new & old.  Ah, different kinds of treasure!

·       Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21; Lk 18:22: The rich ruler told to sell all, give to poor, have treasure in heaven (what he treasured on earth hindered him from loving God).

·       Lk 12:21: We’re rich fools if we lay up treasure (v) for self and aren’t rich toward God.

·       Lk 12:33,34: Seek a treasure in heaven that does not fail; for where treasure is, there is your heart also.

·       Ro. 2:5: Hard-hearted ones treasure up (v) wrath in the day of wrath, judgment.

·       1 Cor 16:2: Believers to give on 1st day from what was stored up.

·       2 Cor 4:7: We have this treasure (Christ, the Spirit, New Covenant blessings) in earthen vessels (our physical body).

·       2 Cor 12:14: Children don't lay up (v) for parents but parents for the children,

·       Col 2:3: In Christ are hidden all treasures of wisdom, knowledge.  Amen!!

·       Hb 11:25: For Moses, riches of Christ better than Egypt’s treasures.  Amen!!

·       Jas 5:3: To the rich, have you heaped up treasures in the latter days?

·       2 Pt 3:7: heaven and earth which are now preserved (v) by the same word, are reserved for fire until day of judgment.

We ought to check the earthly storage unit from time to time to see if it is consistent with our heavily storage unit.  Where is my heart?  What do I treasure?

Psalm 112

 

Again we see evidence that the collecting of the Psalms has some order to it.  Certainly 111 and 112 fit like two adjoining pieces of a puzzle.  The point of Psa. 111 is in the final verse:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever.

The point of Psa. 112 is in the first verse:

Praise the Lord!  Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.

Let us not miss the fundamental truth having to do with the fear of the Lord.  Psalm 112 does not say that magic things happen to the righteous man.  His blessedness is the result of his relationship with his God!

·         112:2: The man who fears God will bring blessing on his descendants as well as his peers.  Everyone around him will be better for having him as a father or grandfather or friend.  It is not their luck but the life of the one who fears God.

·         112:3: He will be better off financially.  So it is not that God will drop extra cash in his wallet.  It is that, by fearing God, his desires/lusts are diminished.  Thus he lives on less and thus has more.  Even better, he has a treasure of righteousness that endures.

·         112:4: In the dark times he has a light on his path.  And he has a treasure of character that enables him to be compassionate to others in the dark times.  Note that these qualities are God-like; God is known for these perfections as we know from His Name (Exodus 34:6-7; see also Ps. 111:4).

·         112:5: He is able to be helpful to others, lending to them rather than being a borrower.  His day-to-day affairs are handled with discretion, not simply doing what he is able to do but what is wise.

·         112:6: He will stand firm amidst life’s storms.  His legacy will be enduring. 

·         112:7: When bad news comes he will not melt under the pressure.  Instead he will be faithful because he trusts in the Lord.

·         112:8: And in the face of those who try to make his life miserable, who attack him without cause and who speak evil of him, he will not panic but will outlast the antagonists.

In the final verses (v9-10) there is a summary/conclusion of it all.  Those who fear the Lord, and thus who delight in keeping His commandments, will bless others and will be standing in the end.  On the other hand, the wicked will eventually melt before the righteous; their desires will go unmet.  The one satisfying and satisfied; the other self-centered and empty. 

It’s a little like the advertisement that always ends, so what’s in your wallet?  We might put it this way: so what’s in your heart?

Rev. 3:7-13, Diadem or Stephanos?

There are two types of crowns in the NT.  There are “diadems” (Greek diadèma), crowns of royalty, crowns given by right.  It’s only used in Rev. 12:3 and 13:1 (crowns on the dragon and the first beast) and 19:12 (crowns on Christ in His revelation … He has many diadems because He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

Then there are “stephanoi,” the crowns of victory, given to winners in contests.  This is the most common type.  There is a noun (stephanos) and verb (stephanoō).  This crown is for those who succeed in running the race of life.  In other words, it is earned.  Keep in mind that the “earning” is accomplished by the grace of God in us, but it is still a reward for faithfulness.

·       Matt 27:29; Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2,5: crown of thorns.  Think about this.  Jesus “won” this crown, at least according to the soldiers who placed it on Him.

·       1 Cor 9:25: Runners in a race run for a perishable crown; we run the race of life for an imperishable one. 

·       1 Thess 2:19: Paul's hope, joy, crown of rejoicing is the Thessalonian church.

·       2 Tim 2:5: Athletes not crowned (verb) unless they compete acc. to the rules.

·       2 Tim 4:8: The crown of righteousness is for all who have loved His appearing.

·       Heb. 2:7,9: Christ, as the quintessential Man, was crowned (verb) with glory & honor; He was made lower than angels for death, but crowned (verb) with glory & honor that He might taste death for all.

·       Jas 1:12: One faithful in temptation receives a crown of life which is for all who love the Lord.

·       1 Pet 5:4: Faithful Shepherds (pastors) receive crown of glory.

·       Rev 2:10: faithful martyrs receive the crown of life.

·       Rev 3:11: Hold fast what you have so no one will take your crown.  In other words, so no one hinders you from completing the race successfully.

·       Rev 4:4,10: 24 elders with gold crowns cast their crowns before the throne. 

·       Rev 6:2: The antichrist is on white horse, having a bow, and a crown given to him, went to conquer.  Assuming our interpretation is correct, this figure has an earned crown while Rev. 13:1 indicates he has royal crowns.

·       Rev 9:7: The locusts had crowns of something like gold.

·       Rev 12:1: The woman (Israel) had a "garland" of 12 stars.

·       Rev 14:14: Here is One like the Son of Man with a gold crown and a sickle.

Note the correct use of terms with respect to Christ.  In His revelation He wears many diadems because that is who He is: King of Kings!  But with respect to His earthly life, and the message of Hebrews, He learned obedience by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8), He became High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hb. 6:20), having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9).

Matt. 5:33-37, Let your “Yes” be “Yes” (Stop Swearing)

Let’s study a very important “little” word, the Greek word nai.  It is the particle of affirmation.  In other words, it is the word for “yes.”  We will begin our study with some passages that help us define this word properly.

·       Mt 5:37; James 5:12: Nai means “yes.”  And you should not get into the habit of adding emphasis to the word, like swearing an oath.  “Yes” should mean “yes.”  All else is evil.  I hear people talk about past days when a man’s word was his bond.  What it was then should be normal now: “yes” means “yes” and you don’t need to add anything to it.

·       2Co 1:17-19: Paul’s word was his bond.  Some accused him of lying when he said he intended to come to Corinth.  Paul was unable to do so and sent Timothy instead, but assured them that his “yes” was a “yes.”  Furthermore, he said that Jesus was the same: He was not “yes and no” but all the promises about Him were yes!  (Now do you see what I just did?  I put an “!.”  That is not necessary.)

·       Mt 9:28: Yes, the blind men affirmed their faith that Jesus could heal.

·       Mt 11:9: Yes, Jesus affirmed, John was a prophet and more (Lk 7:26).

·       Mt 11:26: Yes, Jesus affirmed, that it pleased His Father to hide the mystery from the wise but reveal it to babes (Lk 10:21).

·       Mt 13:5: The disciples affirmed: "yes Lord, we understand."

·       Mt 15:27: The Gentile woman affirmed that Christ came to the Jews, but added, “ but even the dogs eat crumbs from the table” (Mk 7:28).

·       Mt 17:25: Peter affirmed: yes, our nation pays tribute tax.

·       Mt 21:16: Jesus affirmed: "Yes, I hear them" (children at triumphal entry).

·       Lk 11:51: Yes, the blood of prophets was to be counted against this generation.

·       Lk 12:5: Yes, fear him who can cast you into hell.

·       Jn 11:27: Martha affirmed her faith: "yes Lord, I believe you are Christ"

·       Jn 21:15,16: Peter affirmed his love for Christ: yes Lord, you know I love You.

·       Ac 5:8: Sapphira affirmed her lie about the land sale to Peter.

·       Ac 22:27: Paul affirmed his Roman citizenship to the captain.

·       Rom 3:29: Paul affirms: “Yes, God is God of Gentiles & Jews.”

·       Phlm 20: Paul encouraged Philemon with the affirmation: “Yes, let me have joy in the Lord through your actions in this matter.”

·       Rev 14:13: The Holy Spirit affirms the truth, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  They will rest from their labors.

·       Rev 16:7: An angel from the alter in heaven affirms, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

·       Rev 22:20: Jesus affirms: “Yes, I am coming quickly.”

Those last three from Revelation need some good moments of meditation.

James 1:9-11; 2:1-13, Is Lowliness a Goal in Life?

There is a universal principle in Scripture: God exalts the humble and humbles the exalted.  There is a related principle in Scripture: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Nothing supersedes this truth because it involves the most fundamental relationship in the universe, that between Creator and created.  The first step away from God is failure to glorify God as God (Rom. 1:21).

Today’s words are often translated “low” or “lowly.”  In American society, as in the Greek/Roman society, this was considered a bad attitude to consider oneself “low” or “lowly.”  Think about this as you meditate on these passages.

tapeinos: low (only used in a figurative sense)

·       Mt 11:29: Christ is gentle & humble in heart (take my yoke ...).  Of course He is the Man who illustrates this for all “men.”

·       Lk 1:52: God has brought down rulers from thrones and exalted the humble.  These words come from Mary’s hymn about greatness.  In 1:48 she uses the feminine noun: He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.

·       Rom 12:16: don't be haughty but associate with the lowly.  NT Roman and American culture don’t value this idea!

·       2 Co 7:6: God comforts the depressed (NASV; NKJV downcast) comforted us.

·       2 Co 10:1: Paul seems meek when face to face but bold when absent.

·       Jas 1:9: let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position.  I.e. a financially poor brother in Christ nevertheless has the hope of eternity and all it’s blessing.  In 1:10 James used the feminine noun when he encourages the wealthy brother to remember the lowly position of sin from which he was saved.

·       Jas 4:6: God opposes proud, gives grace to humble (1 Pt 5:5; )

tapeinoō: to lower, make low

·       Mt 18:4: whoever humbles self as this child is greatest in Kingdom of heaven.

·       Mt 23:12ab: whoever exalts self shall be humbled; he who humbles self will be exalted (Lk 14:11ab; 18:14ab).  This is the universal principle.

·       Lk 3:5: every mountain shall be brought low.  In this case the mountains are obstacles to the coming and success of Messiah.  None of those will prevail.

·       2Co 11:7: Paul preached without charge, humbled himself so they'd be exalted.  Paul in no way used God’s people for his own self-aggrandizement.

·       2 Cor 12:21: Paul fears God will humiliate him when he comes to them, in other words that he would see the Corinthians were not walking in truth.

·       Phil 2:8: Christ humbled self.  He did not come as an exalted man but as lowly.

·       Phil 4:12: Paul can get along in humble means or in prosperity.  Several times in the NT this lowliness has to do with being poor.  But to be exalted by God is not to increase in worldly wealth.  Read James 1:9-10 again.

·       1 Pet 5:6: humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, He'll exalt in due time.

Rom. 6:12-23, Hear and Obey, for There’s No Other Way

Both the NT and OT words for “obey” have the same idea: listen with the intent to respond to what we hear.  The picture to have in mind is that of a slave.  He is not inclined to do what he wants to do, but waits to hear the word of his master and then responds accordingly.  The Greek is hupakouō, having the verb “to listen” (akouō) with the prefix “under” (hupo).  One who obeys is one who listens and then does not ignore, much less reject or improve upon what he has heard, but “obeys.”

·       Mt 8:27: winds, sea obey Christ (Mk 4:41; Lk 8:25).  See what we mean?  The natural word knows who is their Creator and thus hears and does accordingly.

·       Mk 1:27: unclean spirits obey Christ.  Ah yes, even the demons and the devil.

·       Lk 17:6: someone w/faith can tell mtn to move & it would obey.

·       Ac 12:13: Rhoda "harkened" at door when Peter knocked.

·       Rm 6:12,16abc,17: don't obey sin in it's lusts; whoever you yield self to obey as servants, you are his servants to obey, whether sin to death or obedience to righteousness. Thank God you obeyed from heart the doctrine delivered to them.  This passage really hits the mark.  We were slaves to sin, but died to sin and now live for the Lord.  Thus we, like the winds and waves and unclean spirits realize we have a master and treat Him so.  It is interesting that the “obey” words in Rom. 6 are not commands.  The command is to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ (v11) and then present or yield (submit) yourself to Christ.  The obedience will be automatic if that is how you are thinking.  You make yourself the slave of righteousness.

·       Rom 10:16: not all Jews have obeyed gospel.

·       Eph 6:1: children obey parents (Col 3:20).

·       Eph 6:5: servants to obey masters (Col 3:22).

·       Phil 2:12: Philippians had always obeyed Paul.

·       2 Th 1:8: those that obey not the gospel are those who do not know God and are thus under his judgment and vengeance.

·       2 Th 3:14: if any man obey not this letter don't have company w/him.  Paul had this king of authority from Christ.

·       Hb 5:9: Christ is author of salvation to all who obey Him (i.e. obey the gospel).

·       Hb 11:8: by faith Abraham obeyed God.

·       1 Pt 3:6: Sarah obeyed Abraham.  It means the same: hearkens, hears and heeds.

It’s simple.  According to these passages, who needs to develop the art of “listening?”  EVERYONE!  Abraham AND Sarah.  Jews AND Gentiles.  Apostles AND evil spirits.  First, a yielded heart, listening to the Master.  Only then can their be obedience.