Matthew 15-
This is an interesting one to reflect on, "what pollutes your life?" . . You have to love the Pharisees, here we see them once again nit picking Jesus, Outward appearances are so important to them, and Jesus points it out time after time that its their hearts that matter. And they just don't seem to learn.
This is also an example of where someone brings a question to Jesus and he answers with a question, Their motives came from contempt and pride, the Pharisees sought to justify their own righteousness by pointing out the supposed transgressions of others, yet they were the ones who twisted and distorted the law to suit their own interests, using it as a tool for oppressing those around them.
Jesus flips the script on them and points it out right away. -
“But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they’re worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy.””
Matthew 15:3-9
And i love this, Jesus uses Old Testament to show them that they were in fact fulfilling prophecy about themselves, ouch. . . Keep in mind that the Pharisees would have had the Torah memorized.
Isaiah 29:13-14 The Master said:
“These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their hearts aren’t in it.
Because they act like they’re worshiping me
but don’t mean it,
I’m going to step in and shock them awake,
astonish them, stand them on their ears.
The wise ones who had it all figured out
will be exposed as fools.
The smart people who thought they knew everything
will turn out to know nothing.”
-Jesus responds by teaching them that it is not what goes into a person's mouth that makes them unclean, but what comes out of their heart.
“He then called the crowd together and said, “Listen, and take this to heart. It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up.”” Matthew 15:10-11
His disciples get confused and concerned and try to confront Jesus, they let him know that he upset the Pharisees and Jesus shrugs it off and says they are blind men leading the blind. So Jesus explains it to them.
“Peter said, “I don’t get it. Put it in plain language.” Jesus replied, “You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It’s from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That’s what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that’s neither here nor there.”” Matthew 15:15-20 MSG
This is a spot our culture has backwards, our ideologies will tell you to follow your heart, but the bible says the opposite.
The Bible speaks often about the human heart and its tendency to be deceitful and inclined towards sin. For example, in Jeremiah 17:9 it says: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
In Proverbs 4:23 it says: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Matthew 15:19 Jesus said: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander."
These verses and others like them convey the idea that the human heart is prone to deception and that it needs to be protected from its own sinful inclinations.
The Bible teaches that the only way to protect the heart from sin is to turn to God and ask for His help in renewing our hearts. Psalm 51:10 says: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
The Bible also advises to meditate on God's word, to put on the armor of God, to submit to God and resist the devil, to confess your sins, to seek God's will, to walk in the Spirit, and to keep company with righteous people.
In order to protect our hearts, we must rely on God's grace, seek His guidance, and strive to obey His commands, recognizing that our hearts are prone to wander and we need His help to keep us on the right path.
Another thing to keep in mind here is the concept of being unclean, this was part of what the Pharisees were trying to catch them on -
In the Old Testament, the concept of "uncleanness" is often used in relation to ritual purity and impurity. The Hebrews believed that certain actions, conditions, or things could make a person or an object ritually impure. Being unclean meant that a person was ceremonially unable to participate in certain religious activities or enter certain places, such as the Temple.
The laws of ritual cleanliness and uncleanliness were detailed in the book of Leviticus, and they were based on a belief that God's presence was holy, and that anything that came into contact with God's presence needed to be pure.
Some examples of things that made a person or an object unclean in the Old Testament include:
- Contact with a corpse
- Certain skin diseases or bodily discharges
- Sexual intercourse
- Childbirth
- Eating certain animals, such as pigs
- Touching certain unclean animals
Being unclean was not seen as a moral issue, but a ritual one. People could become unclean through no fault of their own, and the laws provided ways for them to become clean again. The Hebrews believed that these laws were given by God as a way to maintain a proper relationship with Him and to show respect for His holiness.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded by God to conquer and drive out the Canaanites, who were the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, the land God promised to give to the Israelites. The Israelites were instructed not to make any covenants or treaties with the Canaanites and not to intermarry with them.
These instructions were given to the Israelites because the Canaanites were considered to be idolaters and immoral people and their presence would have been a constant temptation for the Israelites to adopt their pagan practices.
Deuteronomy 7:1-5 says "When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy."
It is also to be noted that the Israelites were a chosen people and God had given them a land and a task to be a light unto the nations. The separation from other nations was a way to keep the Israelites from being influenced by the idolatrous practices of other nations.
It's important to note that the Bible's portrayal of the Israelites' treatment of the Canaanites is complex and has been the subject of much debate and interpretation. The Bible also records God's commands to the Israelites to be compassionate and just to foreigners, and the Israelites are held accountable for the way they treat others.
-At first, Jesus does not answer her, but she persists and he eventually agrees to heal her daughter.
“From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills and pleaded, “Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit.” Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, “Now she’s bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She’s driving us crazy.” Jesus refused, telling them, “I’ve got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the woman came back to Jesus, dropped to her knees, and begged. “Master, help me.” He said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” She was quick: “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.” Jesus gave in. “Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well.”
Matthew 15:21-28 MSG
there are verses in the New Testament that indicate that Jesus' primary mission was to the Jews. For example:
- Matthew 15:24: "He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
- John 1:11: "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."
- John 4:22: "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews."
- Acts 3:25-26: "It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
It's important to note that while Jesus' primary mission was to the Jews, He also made it clear that He came to save people from all nations and that the Good News of salvation was meant to be shared with all people.
For instance:
- Matthew 28:19: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
- John 12:32: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
- Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
It can also be said that Jesus' mission was to the Jews first, as a fulfillment of God's promises to the Jewish people and as a way to bring salvation to all people.
Tho Jesus was sent to the Jews first, there are other examples in the New Testament where Jesus is moved by the faith of outsiders. Here are a few examples:
The Centurion's servant: In Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10, Jesus is approached by a Roman centurion who asks him to heal his servant. Jesus is amazed by the centurion's faith and grants his request, healing the servant.
The Syrophoenician woman: In Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus is approached by a Syrophoenician woman who pleads with him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Initially, Jesus seems to reject her request, but her persistent faith impresses him and he agrees to heal her daughter.
The Samaritan woman: In John 4:1-42, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and has a conversation with her. Despite her initial skepticism, she comes to believe in Jesus as the Messiah and shares her faith with her entire village, leading many to believe in Jesus as well.
The blind beggar: In Luke 18:35-43, Jesus is approached by a blind beggar who calls out to him for help. Jesus is moved by his faith and grants his request, healing him and restoring his sight.
The number 7 is an important number in the Bible and it is often associated with spiritual perfection, completeness, and God's divine presence. Here are a few examples of the biblical significance of the number 7:
God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, which is why the seventh day, the Sabbath, is considered holy and is set aside as a day of rest and worship. (Genesis 2:2-3)
The number 7 is also associated with God's completeness, perfection and the fullness of his presence.
For example, in Revelation 1:4, it says that there are seven spirits before the throne of God, representing the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
There are also seven feasts of the Lord in Leviticus 23, which were to be celebrated by the Israelites as a way of remembering God's faithfulness to them and his covenant with them.
The number 7 is also associated with God's judgment. In Revelation, there are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls, which are associated with the end times and God's judgment on the earth.
The number 7 also appears in many other places in the Bible such as seven churches in Revelation, seven parables in Matthew 13, seven woes in Matthew 23 and so on.
In addition, the number seven is also associated with perfection and completion in Jewish culture.
The Menorah in the temple had seven branches and the Passover Seder had seven cups, among other examples.
All in all, the number 7 is seen as a symbol of God's perfection, completeness, and divine presence. It is associated with God's creation, his faithfulness to his people, and his judgments. The number 7 is also associated with the fullness of God's spirit, his holy days, and his promises.
JOB- 8-10
Punishment and reaping what you sow are similar concepts, but they have some distinct differences.
Punishment is a consequence inflicted by an authority, such as a government or a parent, as retribution for a crime or an offense. Punishment is often seen as a way to deter others from committing similar crimes or offenses and to make the offender pay for their actions. Punishment can be physical or psychological, and it can be in the form of fines, imprisonment, or execution.
Reaping what you sow, on the other hand, is a natural consequence of one's actions. It means that the consequences of one's actions will eventually catch up with them, whether good or bad. It is often associated with the idea of cause and effect, where actions have corresponding reactions. It is seen as a natural law that operates independently of an authority, and it is not necessarily inflicted as retribution for an offense but as a result of one's actions.
Punishment is a consequence inflicted by an authority as retribution for a crime or an offense, while reaping what you sow is a natural consequence of one's actions. The latter can be seen as a natural law that operates independently of an authority, and it is not necessarily inflicted as retribution for an offense but as a result of one's actions.
In the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek), there are several words used to describe punishment. Here are a few examples:
In Hebrew, the word "musar" (מוסר) is used to describe punishment or discipline. It can also mean instruction or guidance, and it is often used in the context of God's punishment of his people.
Another word used in Hebrew is "paqad" (פקד) which means to visit, inspect, or oversee. This word is often used to describe God's punishment of the wicked, in the sense that he visits them to bring judgment upon them.
In Greek, the word "timoria" (τιμωρία) is used to describe punishment or retribution. It is often used to describe the punishment of criminals or the punishment inflicted by God on the wicked.
Another Greek word used is "kolasis" (κόλασις) which means punishment, correction, or chastisement. It is often used to describe the punishment inflicted by God on those who have sinned.
The Greek word "axios" (ἄξιος) which means worthy or deserving is often used to describe the punishment that is meted out to someone who has committed a crime or an offense.
It's worth noting that these words are translated to English with different nuances, depending on the context in which they appear. They often have a broad range of meanings and it's important to understand the full context of the passage to understand the intended meaning.
Punishment is a consequence inflicted by an authority as retribution for a crime or an offense, while discipline is a form of training or instruction that aims to correct or improve behavior. Punishment is often seen as a way to deter others from committing similar crimes or offenses and make the offender pay for their actions. Discipline, on the other hand, is seen as a way to teach someone to act in a certain way or to correct undesirable behavior.
Psalm 15 (Not sure who the author is or where it fall in the timeline)
Psalm 15 is a short psalm that describes the characteristics of a person who is considered to be righteous and worthy to dwell in the presence of God.
- The Psalmist asks the question “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?” and goes on to describe the attributes of a person who is righteous:
- The person speaks truth in their heart and does not slander with their tongue.
- They do not do evil to their neighbor or take up a reproach against their fellow man.
- They hate the wicked and do not associate with the arrogant or those who practice deceit.
- They keep their word, even when it leads to their disadvantage.
- They do not lend money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent.
- They who do these things shall never be moved.
The Psalm is talking about the attributes of a person who is considered to be righteous and worthy to dwell in the presence of God. It emphasizes on the importance of having a pure heart, speaking truth and avoiding deceit, keeping one's word, and treating others with kindness and fairness. This Psalm is a reminder that true righteousness goes beyond external actions and rituals, and it requires inner purity, integrity and justice.
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