September 23, 2009
Pray hard and hold on – now there is another Scheler girl
with a car!
The Questions
Read Matthew 7:1-6
1. If verse 1 is true – then how can Matthew 18:15 be true too?
2. Some commentators have suggested Jesus was using humor in verses 3-5. What do you think?
3. Dogs and pigs … sheep and goats … snakes and fish … why all the animals?
Read Matthew 7:7-12
4. What if you knock and the door gets slammed in your face?
5. How is the Golden Rule working in your life?
Read Matthew 7:13-14
6. If the narrow gate is so difficult, how will we ever find it and get through it?
Read Matthew 7:15-23
7. Did you notice the 2 different kinds of judging going on in this section?
8. What is the will of the Father in all this judging?
Read Matthew 7:24-29
9. Which house was tested in the storm?
10. Which house stood and why?
11. What does this say to you?
What an awesome conclusion to Jesus' sermon! We will break here for
40 Days of Purpose! Remember:
1. Hear all of the weekend messages (live or on the web site, http://stpaulsdec.com/); select “Worship” from the Top Line Menu, and then select “Listen To Sermons”, or click here: http://stpaulsdec.com/370080.ihtml .
2. Be here each Wednesday for the deeper teaching.
3. Starting Monday, September 28, read a chapter a day from the book 40 Days of Purpose.
4. Pray hard and hold on for the ride!
Motley Crew Bible Study
September 23, 2009
Pray hard and hold on – now there is another Scheler girl with a car!
The Scripture: The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7 (NIV)
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were
amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had
authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Motley Crew Bible Study
September 23, 2009
Pray hard and hold on – now there is another Scheler girl
with a car!
Suggested Answers
Read Matthew 7:1-6
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
1. If verse 1 is true – then how can Matthew 18:15 be true too?
What Jesus is forbidding in the Sermon on the Mount is self-righteous, hypocritical judgment. Jesus nowhere teaches that we should condone sinful behavior.
“The Christian is not to judge hypocritically or self-righteously, as can be seen from the context (v. 5).” Zondervan TNIV Study Bible, p. 1620.
“Verses 1-5 disparage the Pharisaical practice of disparaging others in order to exalt oneself.” Nicoll, p. 128.
2. Some commentators have suggested Jesus was using humor in verses
3-5. What do you think?
It is possible. I do think Jesus had more of a sense of humor than we give Him credit for in the Gospels.
Some commentators have also suggested that Jesus was using hyperbole to make the point (similar to a camel being threaded through a needle).
"God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." Attributed to Voltaire.
3. Dogs and pigs … sheep and goats … snakes and fish …
why all the animals?
Jesus spoke in the language of the people. We learn a great witnessing lesson from Jesus in this area … speak the language of the people and don't force them to learn “Christianese” before they can join the club.
“neither cast ye your pearls before swine – [Jesus is here referring to] the impure or coarse, who are incapable of appreciating the priceless jewels of Christianity. ... Dogs and swine, besides being ceremonially unclean, were peculiarly repulsive to the Jews, and indeed to the ancients generally....” Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown; also Nicoll, p. 128, Zondervan, p. 1620, and John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
Dogs are also referred to in the story of the Canaanite Woman, Matthew 15:21-28. “'Yes, Lord,' she said, 'but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.'" (NIV)
Read Matthew 7:7-12
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
4. What if you knock and the door gets slammed in your face?
Dr. Lenski has some good thoughts on pp. 292-3:
Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. The imperatives are present tenses, hence iterative: “go on again and again asking, seeking, knocking.” The use of three verbs indicates intensity; and to seek is more fervent than just to ask, and to knock is still more fervent. We ask for what we need; we seek what we earnestly desire; we knock when our desire becomes importunity. Each of these injunctions carries with it a direct and an unequivocal promise which shows how God regards us. Faulty though we are, he is eager to bestow his “good gifts” upon us (v. 11), and this we are never to forget when judging ourselves.
Importunity, as in the Parable of the Canaanite Woman (Matt. 15:21-28). Begging our Lord to heal her daughter, she was rebuked once, and then twice. But her need was so great, than she begged for the third time: "... even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Her persistence got her what she so desperately wanted: “her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
Sometimes the answers to our prayers are delayed, and sometimes the answer is “no.” Persistence is frequently urged in the New Testament, as in the Parable of the Persistent Widow (“...they should always pray and not give up,” Luke 18:1-8) and Paul's admonition to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17). In addition, we must always ask for the right things (James 4:3).
In the Greek, the present imperative tense is used indicating constant asking, seeking, and knocking. Persistent prayer is being emphasized. See: James 4:2-3 (When you ask …) and James 1:17 (Every good thing comes from above).” Zondervan, p. 1620.
5. How is the Golden Rule working in your life?
The Golden Rule is not, “He who has the gold, rules!”
The Golden Rule is found in negative form in Rabbinic Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, and also in Greek & Roman ethical teachings. Jesus gives it in the positive form, not negative form. Zondervan, p. 1621.
The negative implies justice; the positive implies generosity or grace. Nicoll, p. 132.
(Don't tell Congress.)
Read Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
6. If the narrow gate is so difficult, how will we ever find it and get through it?
Only by the hand of the Good Shepherd.
“Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.'“ John 10:7 (NIV)
It was also pointed out that the Bible is a pretty good road map, and that we've got to seek if we are to find. Gene told that some old cities had both a large gate and a small gate. At night, the large gate was locked, so the only way to get in after sunset was through the small (i.e., narrow) gate, difficult to find in the darkness.
By the “narrow gate” is meant Christ himself; as he is the gate into the church, and into all the ordinances and privileges of it, citing John 10:7 (above). Paraphrase from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
“This is called "narrow"; because faith in Christ, a profession of it, and a life and conversation agreeable to it, are attended with many afflictions, temptations, reproaches, and persecutions.” John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I
took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the
difference.
– Robert Frost
Read Matthew 7:15-23
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
7. Did you notice the 2 different kinds of judging going on in this
section?
The first paragraph is for us, and that we can tell about people from their fruits. The second gives us a picture of God, and He is simply looking at the heart.
Since we cannot see the heart of a person, as Christ can see and will judge, we are given this means to discern the intentions of others.
“To obey Christ's commands in this chapter, we must first evaluate a person's character – whether one is a “dog” (v. 6) or a false prophet (v. 15), or whether one's life shows fruit (v. 16). Scripture repeatedly exhorts believers to evaluate carefully (see John 7:24) and choose between good and bad people and things.... The Christian is to “test them all” (1 Th 5:21). Zondervan TNIV Study Bible, p. 1620.
“False prophets.” This means false teachers, that is, those who themselves up to be teachers of others, who appear to be holy and righteous, but whose teachings are repugnant to the word of God, and destructive to the souls of men. Paraphrase of John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
“The Didache speaks of a type of prophet whom it pithily names a χριστέμπορος, … a Christ-merchant. There have always been prophets of this type, “each one to his gain,” … “Evangel-merchants,” traders in religious revival.” Nicoll, p. 133 (writing ca. 1910). The full quotation from the Didache, ca. 50-120 AD, is found on the Motley Crew web page.
v. 21. “There are many who desire to be called and accounted Christians, and who make mention of the name of Christ in their sermons, only ... to cover themselves, and gain credit with, and get into the affections and goodwill of the people; but have no hearty love to Christ, nor true faith in him: nor is it their concern to preach his Gospel, advance his glory, and promote his kingdom and interest; their chief view is to please men, aggrandize themselves, and set up the power of human nature in opposition to the grace of God, and the righteousness of Christ.” John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
v. 21. The double use of the vocative “Lord” is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little. NET Bible.
8. What is the will of the Father in all this judging?
That none should be lost – John 6:39 (“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”).
Go by the narrow path. This will fulfill the will of God … that we will be raised up on the last day. Doing God's will is the key to the door of heaven.
Read Matthew 7:24-29
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
9. Which house was tested in the storm?
Both.
10. Which house stood and why?
It stood because it had a solid foundation – Jesus.
“Every believer is a builder; the house he builds, is his own soul, and the salvation of it; in order to which he digs deep, till he comes to a rock, to a good foundation; he searches diligently into the Scriptures of truth; he constantly attends the ministry of the word; he inquires of Gospel preachers, and other saints, the way of salvation; which having found, he lays the whole stress of his salvation on the rock of ages, which rock is Christ: he makes him the foundation of all his hopes of eternal life and happiness....” John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
“The foolish type is a religion of imitation and without forethought....There are people who play at religion, not realizing what religion is for, but following fashion, doing as others do, and to be seen [by] others....There are men who have religion for today, and think not of the trial tomorrow may bring.” Nicoll, p. 136.
11. What does this say to you?
As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15. “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Pray hard and hold on for the ride!
“The scribes spake by authority, resting all they said on traditions of what had been said before. Jesus spake with authority, out of His own soul, with intuition of truth; and, therefore, to the answering soul of His hearers.” Nicoll, p. 136.
Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority. A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding. NET Bible.
What an awesome conclusion to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount! We will break here for 40 Days of Purpose! Remember:
1. Hear all of the weekend messages (live or on the web site, http://stpaulsdec.com/); select “Worship” from the Top Line Menu, and then select “Listen To Sermons”, or click here: http://stpaulsdec.com/370080.ihtml .
2. Be here each Wednesday for the deeper teaching.
3. Starting Monday, September 28, read a chapter a day from the book 40 Days of Purpose.
4. Pray hard and hold on for the ride!
Some Sources and For Additional Study:
Book of Concord in PDF Format, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod <http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/TrigBOC.pdf> (2MB file)
These texts are in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely. The source of these translations is Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921).
A number of other Lutheran texts can be found in the Belief and Practice section of the website of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=112
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Matthew 7. <http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/gill/matthew7.htm>
Greek
Interlinear Bible,
http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm
Based on NA26/27. A word-by-word translation of the Greek New
Testament.
Lenski, R. C. H., The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943).
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, Matthew 7 <http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mhc/matthew7.htm>
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Matthew 7. <http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/jfb/matthew7.htm>
NET Bible. <http://bible.org/netbible/> A completely new translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes. It was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Excellent notes, citing both the Greek and Hebrew, as needed.
“L&N” cited in the NET Bible refers to Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Nida, eds. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains. New York, NY: United Bible Societies, 1988. Other references are in the “Abbreviations list” file.
W. Robertson Nicoll, The Greek Expositor's Testament. Vol. 1. (New York: George H. Doran Co., ca. 1910). Excellent notes on the Greek text and summaries of commentators. Available at www.books.google.com
“The Three Ecumenical or Universal Creeds,” Book of Concord-Confessions of the Lutheran Church. <http://www.bookofconcord.org/creeds.php>
Zondervan TNIV Study Bible. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005).