Forgiving the Impossible Debt (Matthew 18:21-35)

Recapitulation

In our last study, Jesus talked about overcoming obstacles to greatness in the kingdom of heaven.  The overarching need, we saw, was for humility like a child—like Jesus Himself had in coming from heaven to earth.  The final application of this principle of humility was in understanding that when a fellow believer sins against us, it is an opportunity to serve him or her by rescuing them from that snare of sin.  The goal is not judgment or vengeance but to restore the broken fellowship in which Jesus is already right there in the midst.

What if Someone Sins Against Me?

Now continuing in Matthew 18:21-35, there is the obvious issue of personal forgiveness.  What if that sin in my brother I ought to rescue is against me?  When someone sins against us, they not only need God’s forgiveness, they also need our forgiveness.  Forgiveness does not remove every physical consequence of the sin but it does restore the broken fellowship.  It is in this context that Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  As many as seven times?”  The Pharisees taught that you must forgive up to two times and if you are really magnanimous three times.  So, Peter thought he was going over the top in magnanimity by suggesting seven times.  (If my brother keeps repeating the same offense against me seven times, I should forgive him—but number eight I am free to throw him under the bus.)

But Jesus replied, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy-seven times.”  (It is also possible to translate this ‘seventy times seven.’)  However you slice it, this is a lot of forgiveness!  To explain why we need to keep on forgiving, Jesus told a fictional story in vv. 23-34.  (While it is not called a parable, it functions like one.)

I Owed a Debt I Could Not Pay . . .

As you can see, this story is intended to illustrate a truth about the kingdom of heaven.  Notice that some but not every feature of this story has a parallel feature in the kingdom of heaven.  For example, God has given us certain resources for which He will ask for an accounting, but for the most part we haven’t been given a huge fortune.  The story is illustrating the greatness of the debt of sin we have that He alone can forgive.  In the story, the debt was 10,000 talents which in today’s money would be roughly $10 billion! The point is not the exact amount but the fact that it is so astronomical.  There is no way we can pay this debt.  In the story, the debtor and his family are to be sold into slavery and their possessions all sold at auction.  (It is a story – not an endorsement for slavery!) But even that would not even begin to pay back what is owed.  Jesus is saying that it is impossible to pay this debt.  It is at this terrifying revelation that the man pleads for time to repay what he owes!  (How will time help?!) But the King takes pity on the man because he cannot possibly repay it—not even with more time.  He forgives the debt. 

Now in the story, the forgiven man goes on his way and spies a fellow servant who owes him a paltry sum of 100 denarii which is about three months’ pay.  Not many of us have that kind of free cash lying about so when he confronted the fellow servant about his debt, he asked for time to scrape the funds together.  It would not be easy but given enough time he knew he could do it.  But the man who had just been forgiven $10 billion would not take pity on his fellow servant and had him thrown into debtor’s prison.

The point is well taken.  This scenario doesn’t make sense.  He just screamed into Dave Ramsey’s microphone “I’m debt free!”  He had a load lifted off his shoulders and that of his family as well.  But, he can’t share that good fortune with a poor guy who owes him barely enough to buy a used car.  Jesus takes it one step further; the poor guy has some friends who tell the King.  And now the King is fuming mad.  “You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on that fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”  Then he reinstated the debt and threw him into prison until all should be repaid—which realistically is never.

Then Jesus slams home this final chilling statement: “So also my Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”  So, is this saying that if we fail to forgive someone, God will cancel our forgiveness and throw us into hell? No!  It is saying if you refuse to forgive others then you may not even have accepted the fact of the enormous sin debt you have piled up and so you haven’t really believed God’s offer of radical forgiveness yourself. “If the Son has set you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).  Those who are really free, don’t keep others enslaved.

Some Personal Lessons

1)      Jesus makes this story about us—those of us who claim to have experienced God’s forgiveness.

2)      Did we have a debt that God forgave?  Big or little?  On what basis were we forgiven? (Romans 5:8—While we were still sinners.)

3)      Who owes us debts in this context?  Has someone asked you for forgiveness but you have refused to grant it.

4)      Compare what we owed to God and the largest debt someone owes you.

5)      In the story, it is obvious that if the servant had been truly forgiven would he really have behaved that way?

[He who is forgiven much loves much.  Lk 7:47]

If you find it impossible to forgive someone who has asked for forgiveness—then perhaps you have yet to comprehend the enormity of God’s forgiveness for yourself.

© 2018 Eric Thimell

Overcoming Obstacles to Greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:10-20)

Recapitulation

Our last study revealed some obstacles of pride and lack of trust in God which hinder us from true greatness in God’s kingdom.  Jesus had used a child as an object lesson saying what we needed was humility and obedience like this child to become truly great.

Meticulous Shepherding by the Savior

In verse 10, Jesus cries out again, “See that you do not despise one of these ‘little ones.’”  He is still talking about these same ‘little ones who believe in Him’ who are striving for greatness in the Kingdom of heaven.  Jesus is crying out a warning to those who mess with His kids.  Did you know that they all have angels whose face always looks upon God Himself?  Do you believe in angels?  Jesus did.  And these angels are ready to act on a moment’s notice. 

To explain God’s care for each one of His children, Jesus related this parable.  This is not a bedtime story for children—it is a real-life spiritual story for God’s little ones—those who believe in Him.  But Jesus tells it like a story that we have all loved to tell our children.  It is the story of the shepherd that had a 100 sheep but one goes astray.  By the way, the original word translated ‘astray’ here is where we get our English word ‘planet.’  The Greeks called the planets ‘wandering ones’ because they didn’t understand orbits and it looked like they just went back and forth in the night sky like they were lost.  So, one sheep has wandered off on the mountain in the night and now it is lost.  It has been on the right path but it has been tricked into going the wrong way.  Sometimes God’s little ones, too, have chosen an evil path because they are tricked into thinking it is a good path.  They are deceived and now they need help getting back on the good path. 

Do you see why I don’t believe this is only a story about lost people coming to Jesus?  It is true that Jesus loves lost people—people who haven’t met the Shepherd yet—and He did come to seek and to save that which was lost.  But this story is about little ones that do believe in Him and one is deceived and goes astray.  The shepherd goes and looks for that sheep and brings him back.  There is nothing here about persuading the sheep to join the flock.  He just goes and gets it.  If you believe in Jesus—if you have trusted in Him as your personal Savior—you still commit sin which will separate you from fellowship with Him just as that wandering sheep was separated from the shepherd, but God has even the angels to bring about circumstances designed to bring you back to Him.  And Jesus adds that He rejoices over that returned lamb even more than the ones who never strayed.  He went on to say, “It is not the will of My Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”  This is not a denial of our free will.  But through His great power, God brings circumstances into our lives that bring about enlightenment and a way out because He knows our weaknesses.  So, that’s one way we overcome obstacles to greatness in God’s kingdom.  The shepherd king, with all those angels watching, will come to our rescue.

Now there is one more way that God brings us through the deceptions in this world.  He uses other people in our lives—other believing little ones.  Sometimes the other 99 are oblivious to the straying little one but frequently, they see it as plain as day because when someone strays it affects all of us whether the straying one realizes it or not.

Shepherding by Brothers and Sisters

In verse 15, we have Jesus’ paradigm for dealing with a sinning ‘brother.’  What should we do if we see sin or deception among our brothers and sisters in Christ?  Should we gossip about them or share juicy prayer requests?  Should we take it straight to the pastor or chaplain?  Jesus has a three-step process that seeks to involve as few people as possible.  You do the church no favors by discussing in public the moral failure of a member.  Keeping it as quiet as possible is not hypocrisy if only those who need to be involved are in the loop.  If you see sin or are sinned against (as Jesus puts it) then you alone should approach the brother or sister that sinned and attempt to reach some reconciliation, forgiveness, and enlightenment.  Maybe you need to forgive that person or you will be the cause of them wandering any further off the path.  If they hear you, Jesus says, “You have regained your brother.”  He is back on the path.  He was straying and now is back in the fold.

A side note here.  Many times, maybe most of the time, where two people have an unresolved conflict, the fault seldom lies 100% on one person.  Now, it may be that 90% or 75% lies on one person, but very often, there is some failure on the part of the other person as well.  So be ready to own up to your own possible complicity in this is well.

But what if he won’t listen to you?  Then, go with one or two others (not a whole gaggle!) and try to convince him again.  This way you also have witnesses so that it is not just your word against his.  Again, he has another opportunity.  Maybe this will convince him to come back to the fold.  Sometimes another perspective or more persuasive demeanor may help.

But, sometimes, he still won’t listen.  Then, and only then, after steps one and two, do you ‘tell it to the church.’  The best way to do this is to go to the governing body in your local church whether it be the deacons, the elders, or some other spiritual leadership group and let them decide how to proceed with further outreach to the sinning brother.  The church is supposed to confront the brother as a church—whether this is at the church or some other place is not specified—but representatives of the church leadership should hear the witnesses – not just hearsay from one member—and only then confront the sinning brother to win him over.  The goal is still forgiveness, reconciliation, and enlightenment not vengeance or public shame.  And Jesus says, if he will not listen to the church then treat him ‘as a gentile and a tax collector.’

Matthew’s former occupation (tax collector) still bothers him as you can see.  To treat someone as a gentile and a tax collector means you don’t have anything to do with him anymore.  To a Jew, a gentile was an outsider that you didn’t even eat with.  A tax collector was an evil government official whose salary was tied up with corruption.  In neither case, do you exact any other punishment.  You just don’t associate with him anymore.  You leave him up to the Lord. 

It is interesting to note that Jesus did eat and speak with gentiles and tax collectors but He didn’t invite them into His ministry unless they believed in Him and followed Him—like Matthew.

By the way, this happened in the church at Corinth.  A church member was living in sin with his step mother and when he would not repent, Paul had him excommunicated for a time.  But later the member repented and Paul told the church to welcome him back in and comfort him.  They gave time for God to work in his heart and eventually he came back.

If a person who truly believes falls into sin and refuses to repent, you may have to cut yourself off from him for a while to give God time to work.  But be sure to follow the steps Jesus outlines here in Matthew 18 first.

Balanced Shepherding

Now notice verses 18 through 20.  Verse 18 is essentially a repetition of what Jesus told Peter in chapter 16 when he publicly recognized that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God.  Once again, there is a special Greek construction here that should better be translated “And whatever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven” (Williams).   Some translations imply that Peter (and now the rest of the disciples) can decide on heaven’s policies.  As we said before when we studied chapter 16, this is a command to the church to be careful not to go too far and declare someone as irretrievably lost or not go far enough and refuse to deal with sin.  Be ready to welcome back with joy the repentant sinner but be firm until then.  We need to have God’s heart toward straying people.

So, what is the ‘two or three gathered together’ about?  No this is not God’s promise to sanction a church meeting that doesn’t have a quorum!  Yes, God does promise to be with us always so we certainly don’t need to wait for two or three people to show up!  This verse is in the context of this sinning brother that won’t listen to the church’s plea to change his ways and get right with God.  It is a reference to the ancient Hebrew practice of requiring two or three witnesses at a legal proceeding.  The church only listens to charges of sin when you have two or more witnesses.  This is a protection against false accusations.  It is done only in reliance upon prayer.  And God will hear and act. So, church action is not unilateral action by the pastor.  It is a group decision.

Notice how it ends.  “There am I in the midst of them.”  This is exactly the same Greek phrase as at the beginning of our pericope in verse 1 we looked at last time when Jesus placed a child—a little one—in the midst of them.  Jesus humbled Himself (Phil 2:8) like a little child and came among us and is still with us.  He wants us to know that being counted among the great ones in the Kingdom of Heaven, requires us to humble ourselves like a little child—something He Himself did. Dealing with sin in the membership is very humbling when done properly.  Little believing ones face two great obstacles: other people trying to deceive us into sinning or even our own bodies can deceive us.  Yet Jesus provides us with two great allies:  Jesus Himself and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Those who want to be great in God’s kingdom humbly recognize they need the daily help of the Shepherd King as well as the encouragement our fellow ‘little ones.’  There but for the grace of God go I.

© 2018 Eric Thimell

Obstacles to Greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:1-9)

Recapitulation

In our study of Matthew’s Gospel, we have come to Jesus’ teaching concerning the citizens of the Kingdom.  We have already seen that citizenship in the kingdom involves choosing to trust in the King and while we wait for the kingdom to come (as the Lord stated in His model prayer) we continue to trust in Him.  But is it possible to excel as a citizen?  Are some citizens of the kingdom greater than others? 

We saw at the end of chapter 16 that when Jesus comes into His kingdom He will repay each one “according to what he has done.”  This was in the context of denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus.  And furthermore, we know that Jesus is NOT teaching salvation by our works.  He is speaking to His disciples.  This is something that must be said to believers, not only by Jesus, but in the epistles as well.  Why?  Because believers do not automatically do these things.  They must be taught and led.  And there is the incentive of rewards.

Greatness in the Kingdom

This idea of equality in the Kingdom is true in the sense that we are equally loved by our Savior Who died for us while we were all yet sinners.  But the Bible is clear that there are rewards for faithful service as well.  It is against that backdrop that several times in the Gospels, we see the disciples discussing the issue of ‘greatness’ in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

But ‘greatness’ does not come at the expense of others—rather it comes in the service of others.  In our pericope at hand (Matthew 18:1-9), we notice that we are following closely after Matthew’s discussion of the sufficiency of Jesus for every need. And as a final example (Matthew 17:24-27) we looked at how Jesus dealt with the issue of the temple tax.  Yes, as citizens of heaven and members of the royal family of God we should not be subject to this tax but just like Jesus who came from heaven for a higher purpose to seek and to serve the lost and to not give unnecessary offense in all our conduct, we pay our taxes and give honor to the powers that be. Jesus now links this idea of humble service to the notion of ‘greatness.’

Navigating ‘Offenses’

There are several Biblical words and phrases here that will need to be clarified as we go along.  Let’s start with ‘offense.’  Some Bible versions will have ‘stumbling-block’ or ‘lead astray.’  The original word here is ‘trap.’  Whatever may cause the ‘offense,’ it is a temptation to be led astray—something that can trip us up and cause us to sin—to go the wrong way.  This is what Jesus wished to avoid in the case of the temple tax.  Speaking of the necessity of the cross and will be offense enough.  No one wishes to hear that they are sinners but it is necessary that they understand their predicament in order that they might be saved.

Now, returning to the disciples’ question concerning who would be the ‘greatest’ in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus used a ‘child’ and had him stand ‘in the midst of them.’  He wanted to make clear that entrance and greatness in the kingdom are not the same thing but they are related.  They both require something represented by this child.

Entrance and Greatness in the Kingdom

Just as the child innocently trusts a loving father, so entrance into the kingdom requires childlike belief in the promise of God.  But the child also illustrates a willingness to then humbly follow this same loving father.  This humble service, Jesus says, is what characterizes greatness in the kingdom. So, the one who wishes to be great in God’s kingdom must “turn around” and “become like this child.”  This phrase “turn around’ usually refers to how someone moves so they can face the person they are talking to.  (Jesus turned to them and said . . .) But it can also be used figuratively like ‘turning the other cheek.’ The idea here involves a change in your viewpoint so you can “become like this child” – a humble viewpoint.

Viewpoint Repentance

Some Bible students connect this “turning” with repentance although the specific word is not mentioned here. Still there are aspects of repentance that are crucial to entering the kingdom of God.  Whatever false ideas about God or sin that you may have that prevent you from trusting in Jesus alone must be dealt with.  (How can you believe what you previously thought is a lie?) But full behavioral and heart repentance is a lifetime project.  Some things in our lives we will know instantly are sinful and need to stop. But it may take some time to fully deal with not only changing our behavior and our thought life but also reconciliation with the ones we have hurt.  Those things will take time but we don’t wait for perfection to become citizens of the kingdom of heaven.  So, the “turning” here is a beginning.  It is also a continuing change of viewpoint to humble service. 

In theological terms, both justification and sanctification are in view here but the latter is viewed as a process in the life of the believer.  We become citizens of the kingdom by believing and we become great in the kingdom by progressively humbling ourselves as a child to serve others.  We do NOT enter by making a change.  We may need to change a viewpoint to enter, but once we enter we are exhorted to “turn” in order to humbly serve others and this service is what defines ‘greatness” in the kingdom.

Further down in verse 6, Jesus tells us that He is talking about one of these “little ones” who “believe in Me.”  These are the ones who must humble themselves.  This is where the idea of ‘having faith like a little child’ comes from.  ‘Child-like faith’ involves a big turnaround for adults.  The child continues to have questions, but they are borne out of relationship, not skepticism.  Yes, the skeptic is invited to ‘come and see’, but he enters the family of God only when he changes his skeptical mindset and just trusts in Jesus.  He continues to take his questions to God, but realizes that even though he may not get all his questions answered, he can totally trust the One Who has the answers.  That’s entering the kingdom and then living like a citizen.  There are still issues, questions, and sinful attitudes and past failures that need change but now AFTER entrance he begins the process of transformation.

Citizens of Heaven Still Need Humility

Citizenship does NOT automatically confer ‘greatness.’ So, Jesus quickly moves on from citizenship to greatness in verse 4.  ‘Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.’  The word ‘then’ here means ‘subsequently.’  First, I become a citizen of heaven then, I can consider ‘greatness.’  We used to sing the praise song, “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.”  I don’t wish to belabor the Greek but it may help you to know that this word ‘greatest’ is not limited to just one person at the top of the heap like it sounds in English.  Anyone can aspire to be among those Jesus calls the ‘greatest’ in the kingdom of heaven.

Avoiding Pride

This word for ‘humbling himself’ is also used in Philippians 2:8 where Jesus is said to have left heaven to come to earth and taking the form of a slave He ‘humbled Himself.’  Paul goes on in that passage to say that Jesus is now highly exalted “that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.”  The Greatest One Ever humbled Himself also.  Those who aspire to be among the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven should humble themselves and serve others, too.  So, the first obstacle to greatness is pride.  Pride whispers to us, ‘But wait!  This is so counter-intuitive.  Won’t people take advantage of me?’ 

Yes, just like Jesus had done, He instructed Peter to humble himself and pay the collectors of temple tax.  Peter had balked at paying so instead of ponying up he approached the Master and complained.  But Jesus told him to go back and pay up.  Now it is up to these others to respond.  The tax collectors left unoffended as Jesus predicted.  They had their money. But what if others are inhospitable to us anyway?  Jesus said that He would count the kind of reception these ‘little ones who believe in me’ receive as if it were given to Him.  We represent the King and if people ‘take advantage of our willingness to serve’ then the King will consider that a reproach against Him. We should always seek to serve and to avoid unnecessary offense but the world will not necessarily receive our message with kindness.  But, be assured, Jesus will notice. 

Citizenship in heaven is not gained by what we do but by trusting the One Who died for us.  Greatness in heaven, however, requires service to others. 

Now, who exactly are ‘these little ones who believe in me?’ Many people say this passage refers to causing little children to sin because of the context with the child standing there.  And while I think it is truly a terrible thing to lead children astray, remember Jesus is talking about becoming like this child.  The context is talking about becoming great by humbling ourselves like this child and welcoming such persons—not only literal children.  ‘Little’ is from the word ‘mikron’ from which we get the word ‘microbe’ while ‘great’ is from ‘mega’ as used in megabyte.  ‘Little’ is a deliberate wordplay with ‘great.’  Jesus takes care of His ‘little ones’ with His ‘great’ power.  We humble ourselves and become little so He can make us great.  No wonder the world does not understand!

Terrible Traps

There are two more obstacles—terrible traps—for which Jesus now issues drastic warnings. 

1) Anyone who lays a trap or causes one of His ‘little ones who believe in Me’ to sin—it would be better that such a person be executed by drowning.  Such an end was considered horrible—to die and not be buried and ‘resting with your ancestors.’  Those who brought shame on their family were not buried in the family tomb when they died.  (By the way, was this uttered by the One Who said to ‘love your enemies?’  Jesus is perfecting people to live in His perfect kingdom and all imperfection will be done away with.  Is it not loving to warn someone, at all costs, of terrible calamity lying ahead?)

2) Jesus then cried out: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!”  (Literally, traps, stumbling blocks or offenses.)  All those things in the world that cause us to sin will one day be done away with.  No more traps!  But why are they necessary?  In fact, why is evil in the world at all?  (The age-old question!)  God has set before us a series of real choices that require a moral choice between doing good or doing evil.  The Kingdom of Heaven is a place where only those who choose good will want to go. 

Hypothetically speaking, if you knew that heaven could be yours if only you completely gave up your sin would you still want to go?  (This is the question that CS Lewis takes up in his powerful story, ‘The Great Divorce.’)  God did not create sin or evil.  But he created us with the ability to choose (good or evil).  Sin is an evil choice which Eve was the first to make.  (By the way, what dire consequence came upon the one who deceived her?)  Someday, this world where evil choices are possible will be done away.  In the meanwhile, we must learn to live here in dependence on our good God. 

Everything in this world, whether other people, our own body’s addictions, or the devil and his followers can be used to make us stumble, to trick us into choosing evil.  Just as the person who causes us to sin deserves to be drowned, neither must we allow our own bodies to cause us to sin.  Just as Jesus was not commanding the church to drown all the persons guilty of tempting others to sin, neither was He commanding all who were deceived to mutilate their bodies.  But he was using vivid terminology to warn us of the horrible consequences of sin—consequences which are seen somewhat dimly here in our time bound world outside eternity. 

Straying from Greatness?

With overwhelming obstacles like this no wonder so many of Jesus ‘little ones’ go astray in their journey toward greatness.  Considering Jesus love for His ‘little ones’ he warns of the terrible consequences for leading them astray and also the deadly serious need for His ‘little ones’ to be vigilant for the traps of this life that may attempt to prevent them from reaching greatness.

© 2018 Eric Thimell

Is Jesus really ‘The Answer’? (Reprising Matthew 17:14-27)

Matthew’s Unique Insights

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have often said, ‘Jesus is the answer’ to whatever issue may be wiping the deck with us at the moment.  Sometimes this idea has been mocked because it is ‘oversimplistic,’ they say.  Or, it’s not ‘realistic.’  In our study, this time, I want to go back over the pericope we examined last time but continue to the end of the chapter.  We will look at this material from a little bit different angle—that is, from Matthew’s viewpoint.  Our last study looked at the events from several gospel writer’s viewpoints and we saw how Jesus was moving from a prophetic role to a priestly one.  It was more of a theological intercanonical interpretation. But this time I want to look carefully at Matthew’s own insights of these events and we will see four basic but related questions about life that only Jesus can answer!  This is Matthew’s unique insight.

Recapitulation

Last time we discussed the debacle at the foot of the Mount of Transfiguration.  Just like Moses descending Mount Sinai with the ten commandments only to discover his brother Aaron mixed up in a major leadership failure, here Jesus descends the Mount of Transfiguration only to come upon a leadership failure on the part of the disciples who stayed behind.  They had failed to cast out a demon due to a lack of trust in Jesus.  We noted that Mark’s gospel adds that they should have prayed.

Four Questions

Last time, we also noted that two major questions were being used to discredit Jesus and His mission.  As we read further we see there were actually two additional questions of major concern.   So, let’s examine again verses 14-27.

1) What is truth?

The first major question Matthew wants to answer dealt with Jesus’ authority.  The Pharisees had already denied that Jesus had any authority and even blasphemously credited Jesus’ ability to cast out evil spirits to an unholy alliance with Satan.  Now the Scribes were attempting to use this second case of demonization as a vivid proof that Jesus was obviously not the Messiah.  Of course, Jesus had time and again demonstrated His credentials but when they began resisting the truth He had decidedly shut the door on any further signs “except for the sign of Jonah.” 

It is one thing to search for truth – it is another thing to resist it when it looks you square in the face.  Have you ever felt like you were no longer sure of the path that God had once set you upon?  Perhaps there is a clear instruction from God that has been left undone.  Oftentimes, God seems to only give enough light for one task at a time.  If you feel like you are in the dark now, keep working on the last clear directions you received. God gives you more light as you follow the light you already have.

The Scribes and Pharisees were willing to believe that the Gentiles needed to repent.  But they failed to see that the message of repentance was also directed at them.  The people of Nineveh repented but not the generation of Jesus’ day.  Jonah had survived three days and nights in the great fish.  Once they saw Jesus come out of the grave after three days and three nights, that would be the last sign!  Jesus Himself was the answer to the question: “What if the national leadership rejects the authority of Jesus—the One Who claimed to be the Truth?”  He is still the answer today.  But the ‘experts’ have decided.  It is apparently ‘settled theology.’  The ‘experts’ are now facing the answer to the question, ‘What is truth?’ and they have rejected it.  The path to truth will require some re-examination of some presuppositions.

2) What is Faith?

The second major question dealt with the disciples’ faith.  They tried to stand up for Jesus by casting out the evil spirit but were unable.  Jesus said, this is because of “your little faith.”  Not little as in too tiny but little as in inadequate.  All they needed was some “mustard seed faith.”  But, they were trusting in their own ability—not Jesus.’  Again, Jesus is the answer to the second question, “What if I try to minister in Jesus’ name but I am unsuccessful?”  I need to ask Jesus for help.  I need to be trusting in Him, not me.  It doesn’t take much faith—but it must be faith in Jesus—and then I can move mountains!

3) What is Life?

The third major question comes about as we see the distress that His prediction concerning His upcoming death causes.  “So, Jesus is the Answer. But of what use is a dead Answer?”  The truth is, Jesus is alive today.  So, He is still the answer.  But for the disciples, this was still future.  It greatly distressed them.  Jesus’ passion would destroy death as an enemy.  Today death is a door—not the end.  But they didn’t hear that although Jesus has told them more than once.  How many times have we heard that Jesus is coming back—that He is gone to prepare us a place with Him?  Have we really heard it?  Does it distress you that He is not back yet?  Have you experienced His Life in you as a foretaste of what is to come?  The disciples heard that He would be gone.  We, too can feel overwhelmed because He is gone.

4) How Can We Live by Faith in Light of the Truth?

The fourth major question concerns ‘cultural resistance’ and our sense of alienation.  It is found in the pericope about the temple tax money found in the fish’s mouth.  Notice that Jesus did not argue with the authorities regarding the legitimacy of this tax.  He did let Peter know that it was unethical on the part of the tax collector to be collecting this anymore.  It was originally done one time to pay for the cost of furnishing the tabernacle and may have been repeated when the temple needed some repairs.  But in Jesus’ day it was simply a money-making device that caused many foreign nations to drool at the prospect of raiding the temple treasury in Jerusalem and was the cause of much corruption in the high priesthood. 

But, Jesus told Peter that this was not a battle that He wanted to fight.  He didn’t want to offend anyone—or scandalize anyone—by not paying the customary head tax.  Some historians point out that Rabbis were supposed to be exempt but Jesus was more concerned that He not offend the untaught or undiscerning people and cause them to stumble.  Jesus and His disciples had no money, but just as He taught His disciples to trust God to supply their daily bread, He now teaches them that God will supply their tax fees as well.  So, the fourth question that Jesus answers is this: “If this world is not our home and we are citizens of the kingdom of God, how involved should we be in this world’s system?”  Should I pay?  Will God supply that need?  Jesus is once more the answer.  He will provide what we need—but we need to trust in Him.

There is a secondary question that is addressed here as well:  Where do we draw our line in the sand with others who make demands of us that they have no right to make?  Here, Jesus would say that we must be willing to give up our rights—not our responsibilities—in the same way that Jesus did (Phil. 2:5-11)—in order that we might bring the gospel to some (1 Cor. 9:22).

Let’s summarize these four general questions then: 

1)      What is truth?  Ultimate reality is found in Jesus.  We grasp this truth by faith.

2)      What is faith?  Faith is trusting in Jesus according to His Word.

3)      What is life?  Real life is found in Jesus.  Nothing can separate us from Him

4)      How can we live by faith in light of the truth?  (--In the world but not of the world?) In the meanwhile, we trust Jesus to supply everything we need.

Yes, Jesus really is—and will continue to be—the answer.  The disciples experienced these same general issues in some very specific ways.  We, too, experience these issues in our lives and the solution remains the same – Jesus.

© 2018 Eric Thimell

The Messiah Leads from Faith to Faith (Matthew 17:14-21)

Recapitulation

In our current study of Matthew’s Gospel, we have just come back down from the mountain top where Jesus revealed Himself in His glory to Peter, James, and John.  Moses and Elijah also appeared there with Him.  There was a voice from the midst of a cloud of glory that proclaimed that Jesus was His Beloved Son, that God was pleased with Him, and told the disciples to listen to Him.  We noted that this event seems to begin a transition from Jesus’ prophetic ministry to a high priestly ministry.  Thus His proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom to Israel is framed on each end by this appearance of God’s glorious endorsement.  First at His baptism and now at His transfiguration—a double endorsement of Jesus’ authority!

The Commotion in Jesus’ Absence

Now we pick up the pericope in vs. 14 of chapter 17.  Remember that what happened on the mountain was supposed to stay on the mountain until after Jesus’ resurrection.  So the rest of the twelve and the people have no idea of any of this at this time.  And as Jesus and the inner three approach the crowd that they had slipped away from earlier, they notice that there is a commotion.  (By the way, this is deliberately reminiscent of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai to find a religious commotion.)

Mark 9 adds some details about this—the scribes were arguing with the disciples before a huge crowd.  Apparently they had arrived while Jesus was away and were now attempting to undermine the authority of both Jesus and His disciples.  This incident would be very instructive to the disciples’ later ministry as they faced mounting opposition from Jewish religious leaders.

Patience Even with Unbelief

A desperate man had come with a demon-oppressed son. The demon had attempted to destroy the boy many times since childhood.  The disciples had previously been given authority to cast out demons but this time they were completely unable.  So the scribes seized on this heartbreaking situation to press home their argument that Jesus and His disciples lacked any authority.  But when they saw Jesus, the man came running and bowed down before Him.  He described the inability of the disciples to help but now pleaded with Jesus to heal his son. 

In the past, Jesus had usually responded very positively to requests like this but now He berated the crowd (Mark and Luke both mention that His words seemed to be pointed at the whole nation).  He called them an “unbelieving (or faithless) and twisted (or perverted) generation.”   For three years, Jesus had presented Himself as the Messiah of Israel and they refused to believe Him.  They were more interested in the things of this life than in the things of the life to come.  Then He added, “How long must I put up with you?”  He sounded impatient and scolding.  Of course, God does limit His door of opportunity yet keeps it open long after we would have given up.  Yes, the Messiah was enduring this despising of His grace but in about six months He would be back with His Heavenly Father.  It was not easy to keep pleading with people who were just using Him.

The Tiny Bit of Faith

Now, Mark adds another detail here.  The father of the boy says, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”  Jesus’ words about unbelief showed that there was something missing.  And this man was struggling but he really wanted to believe that Jesus could help his son.  He had believed enough to bring his poor bedeviled son to see Jesus but he struggled to really believe in Jesus.  And, in his desperation, he admitted it to Jesus.  It is at this point that Jesus commanded the spirit to leave and never return.  That tiny bit of faith was all that it took—just like the mustard seed faith Jesus talks about later with the disciples. Do you think it helped his unbelief?

The Pain of Recovery

Notice something else here. Matthew tells us that the spirit didn’t leave peacefully.  It left the boy looking more dead than alive but Jesus then restored the child physically and gave him whole to his father.  While we do not want to second guess the reason for the boy’s condition, Jesus’ ability and authority are very instructive here. Jesus can rescue us from the after-effects of sin in our lives, too, and from any prison of compulsive behaviors.  But there may be painful consequences like here and, as in this case, there may well be significant pain and struggle involved.

How Faith Can Grow

By the way, notice that even though our own faith, like the father’s, may be inadequate, it can grow and change.  His initial faith wavered between faith in Jesus and faith in the disciples.  And that’s what Jesus explains to the disciples when they asked Him later why they were unable to cast out the evil spirit.  He told them, it is because of your “small faith.”  He said even if you have “faith as a grain of mustard seed” you can move mountains—but they were surprised at their inability.  They had faith in their ability and it failed them!  Something was lacking concerning their faith.  So what was the problem? 

Faith is “trust” or “belief.”  Like the word “power,” “faith” requires an object to understand what kind of “power” or “faith” we are talking about.  How much “horsepower” does your car have?  That depends on the engine you say.  How much “faith” do you have?  That depends on the engine of faith—which is what you “believe in”—what you are depending on to do something.  If your car engine was an .049 cc model airplane engine, you can hit the gas pedal all day and I doubt the car will even move.  Biblical “faith” is not some universal force field that you just tap into.  It is specifically a trust in God.  There are all sorts of faith, of course.  But unless we are trusting in God, it is too small, because the object of our faith is too small.  So perhaps a better way of categorizing the disciples’ problem was that their faith was too small because it was inadequate.  Their faith to heal the boy was not in God.

The Object of Our Faith

What then were the disciples trusting in?  What was the object of their faith?  Perhaps they were trusting in the authority they had previously when Jesus had sent them out to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom.  It was, after all, not THEIR power but God’s power that needed to be used.  Mark points out that Jesus added this further explanation concerning the demon: “This kind goes out only with much prayer.”  Jesus had taught them to ask and it would be given to them.  But if they hadn’t even asked, they were likely relying on their own strength.  An adequate faith trusts in Jesus.  Nothing else will do—not even in a person who prays for you.  They admitted, “We are unable.”

I believe there are two related faith experiences that the disciples needed to understand (and Matthew intends for us to understand.) 

(1) They had already believed in Jesus (trusted in Him, had faith in Him, relied on Him, counted on Him) as the Messiah of Israel and the One Who would grant them entry into the kingdom of God.  That is saving or justifying faith.  God declares them righteous because of Christ’s righteousness just as He does for us. 

(2) But they also needed to live by this faith from day to day as they served this Messiah and proclaimed His kingdom.  They needed to trust God for the power, resources, and authority to proclaim the gospel and to speak to others about the Messiah.  It is not our amazing way with words that will win people to Christ.  It is the conviction of the Spirit plus their choice to believe Jesus’ promise.  We are so used to just relying on our own strength.

Colossians 2:7 says, “. . . As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith . . .”  We received Christ by faith.  Now we walk in Him by faith.  Without this daily faith walk in Jesus we are inadequate to serve God.  We can’t serve God in our own strength.  It is not OUR arguments, OUR wit, OUR charm, and OUR knowledge (though God uses them).  It is our dependence on HIM.

Jesus would only be with them a short while longer and they needed to learn this walk with Him that is more than just receiving Him by faith and knowing they have a seat in the Kingdom. We enter by faith and we walk by faith.  And the only adequate faith for either is when we are trusting in Jesus Himself.  It may seem like we don’t need faith most of the time.  But are we not engaged in a spiritual task every day?  How do you expect to accomplish that?  This is why Paul says in Romans 14:23: “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”  And also the writer of Hebrews says in 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”  But not just any old faith—no, no, it must be faith in Jesus.  He is the Trustworthy One.  Even His disciples found that their faith was inadequate aside from faith in Jesus.

Now do you see what was so upsetting to Jesus?  Your faith is inadequate, dear disciples.  I can do ALL THINGS through Christ.  That, is the faith that can move mountains.  Tiny, maybe, but adequate, if it is Jesus we are counting on to do the moving.

© 2018 Eric Thimell

From Prophet to Priest (Matthew 16:28-17:13)

Recapitulation

In our last study in Matthew we looked at Jesus’ pointed invitation to His disciples.  Their ego-centered lives had to come to an end which required their full embrace every day as they line up behind their Lord.  We also saw that there would be a rewarding future when He returned in glory with His angels.  It was an entirely sobering talk.

Seeing the Coming of the Son of Man

Now we take up Matthew’s gospel in 16:28. There was one last intriguing comment: “Some of you standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”  Did this mean that His kingdom would have its final fulfillment in just a few years’ time—that is a couple thousand years ago?  The last living apostle, John, writing some sixty-five years later would say, “No, not yet.  But come quickly, Lord Jesus!”   The key word in verse 28 is “see.”  They would “see” it.  How?  That’s what the very next verses are about.  (You do realize that the chapter and verse numbers were added much later!  They are uninspired helps designed so we can all find the same place together.) 

The Vision of the Coming of the Son of Man

There is a subtle shift in the text, however.  There is a time shift of six days and a geographical shift of some 20 miles and an altitude shift of about 10,000 feet.  There is obviously an arduous trip involved but Matthew is more interested in documenting the end of phase one of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Jesus took the “inner three” disciples (Peter, James, and John) to the top of a high mountain.  This is quite likely one of the peaks associated with Mt. Hermon situated at the conjunction of the borders of modern day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.  Today, Israel operates a ski resort there on the southern slopes of Mt. Hermon just a short distance from Panias where Peter issued his famous confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  Hermon soars up to 9200 feet above sea level while Galilee is about 700 feet below sea level down at the head of the Jordan Rift Valley.

And up there on the heights overlooking nearly all of Israel, Jesus face began to shine with a brilliance like the sun.  His clothing also blazed with an unearthly white light.  This event has been called “the transfiguration.”  And then the disciple saw two men talking to Jesus.  Matthew says they were Moses and Elijah.  Luke adds that they “appeared in glory” and discussed “His departure about to be accomplished at Jerusalem.” 

Before we can discuss their significance, we need to read a little further.  Matthew tells us that Peter was feeling quite exuberant as he exclaimed, “It is good to be here!”  Peter then suggested that the three disciples should build three temporary shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  This was a familiar task done every year by every Jewish family during the Feast of Sukkoth (also called the Feast of Booths or Ingathering) which lasted 7 days.  It celebrated two things:  God’s miraculous provision during the forty years in the wilderness while they all lived outside in temporary shelters and it was also a celebration of the final harvest of the year called Ingathering.  It was always celebrated as a great feast of joy and gladness.

Passover, Firstfruits, and Final Harvest

It is quite likely that this trip up Mt Hermon coincided with this annual feast and Peter was just following through according to the teaching of the Law.  But Jesus came to fulfill the Law which directed that before the Ingathering came Passover when the fields must be prepared and planted.  Then comes the Firstfruits when the very earliest results begin to be seen before the growing season and then the final harvest.  The three annual feasts seem to correspond with three major prophetic events—prophetic in that that they were instituted at Mount Sinai some 1475 years before!  Passover not only commemorated the death angel “passing over” the Israelite homes where the blood of the substitute perfect lamb had been put on the doorposts, it also prefigures Jesus who was called the ‘Lamb of God’ and ‘Christ our Passover’ which would later be fulfilled at His crucifixion on Passover.  Firstfruits dedicated the very first early harvest to God.  But it also prefigures the first harvest of 3000 souls who believed at the feast of Firstfruits (also called Pentecost).  So what does Ingathering (the final harvest) represent? 

In Jesus’ teaching of the parables, the final harvest was at the end of the age when His angels came to reap the harvest and the weeds were taken away and burned while the harvest was taken into His barn.  So, prophetically speaking, the first two feasts were not yet fulfilled in Christ.  Peter was inadvertently skipping the planting and the growing and going right for the final harvest although he soon understood that Jesus was using this for a teaching moment.

The Approval of God

While Peter was still speaking, a bright blazing cloud passed overhead from which a voice could be heard speaking.  “This is my Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.  Listen to Him.”  This was a repeat of the scene at Jesus’ baptism.  It was also an obvious reference again to Isaiah 42:1 where this same statement is made concerning the Messiah—the suffering Servant.  The bright cloud was probably like that which accompanied the Israelites during the daytime on their forty years in the wilderness—the shekinah glory or visible presence of God.  It also filled the Tabernacle and later the Temple of Solomon.  So why is it being repeated here?  It seems like this sign was given on either end of Jesus’ prophetic ministry to Israel—the part where He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom.  He was the promised prophet who would be like Moses and speak to the people directly from God. 

Now this part of Jesus’ earthly ministry was coming to an end as He shifted from His prophetic ministry to His priestly ministry.  The Voice finished speaking while the three disciples lay prostrate on the ground in fear.  Jesus, spoke and said, “Do not fear” and eventually they got up and noticed that Moses and Elijah were gone.  They saw no man but Jesus only.  And as they turned to go down the mountain, Jesus instructed them not to talk about the “vision” until after His resurrection.

This is another mention of His rising from the dead!  Perhaps they thought it was another of His sayings with a double meaning!  But then they asked this penetrating question, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  (You know, Jesus, we just saw Elijah!)  But Jesus explained that Elijah did come and was killed and then they understood that he meant John the Baptist who had come in the power of Elijah—just as Matthew had explained earlier in the book (11:14).

Why Moses and Elijah?

So now we can think about this question we posed earlier concerning “seeing” the Son of Man coming in glory.  The inner three disciples had indeed “seen” Jesus in His glory right there in Israel.  But notice that Jesus called it a “vision.”  Now, why were two Old Testament people—Moses and Elijah—seen talking with Jesus in this vision?

Here are some observations which may help. 

1)  Moses was the one who brought the Law to Israel.  They referred to the Law simply as ‘Moses.’  Elijah was the one who was revered above all the prophets. These two represent the Law and the Prophets—the supreme authorities in Israel concerning God.  Also, both of these men are noted for climbing Mt. Sinai to converse with God in all His glory and here they are on another mountain conversing with Jesus in all His glory. 

2)  Notice that both of these men left their life’s ministry unfinished and were taken to heaven under miraculous but clouded circumstances. 

3)  John’s Revelation describes two witnesses who minister on earth for three and a half years with supernatural protection and even turning the rivers to blood (as Moses did) and calling down fire from heaven (as Elijah did).  This is a yet-future time before the second coming.  Many take the two witnesses to be Moses and Elijah completing their unfinished ministry with Israel before dying and being resurrected (according to the apostle John).  Perhaps, Jesus was clueing them in on the beginning of the prophetic clock ticking down until it was their turn to reappear.  They, too, will be executed in Jerusalem and rise the third day and ascend into heaven.

What Does It Mean?

In any event, Jesus’ ministry to Israel as a prophet of the Kingdom of God was winding down.  Israel had rejected John the Baptist who had come in the power of Elijah.  They had rejected Jesus who had come as their Messiah.  Now, Jesus had to fulfill the Law which said there is no redemption without the shedding of blood (Leviticus 17:11).  Israel needed redemption and, indeed, the whole world, as well.

Today, we are somewhere between Firstfruits (Pentecost) and Final Harvest (Ingathering).  No man knows the day or the hour—only the Father in heaven.  Do you see why Jesus wanted His disciples to follow Him? What other Voice can we trust?

© 2018 Eric Thimell

Invitation and Rewards (Matthew 16:21-27)

Recapitulation

In our last study, we saw that Peter had been given high praise by Jesus for his spiritual observation into Jesus’ identity.  Matthew points out that it was then that Jesus began to discuss His upcoming trial and passion in Jerusalem.  We pick up the pericope in Matthew 16:21.

Going to Jerusalem to Suffer

“He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”  Jesus had hinted at this before with His mentions of the sign of Jonah but now He was preparing His disciples for what might otherwise be viewed as a terrifying defeat.  From the armchair, it might appear that He hadn’t gotten through to His disciples because on that third day, they were shocked that He was really alive.  But Peter’s words here reveal that he at least understood that Jesus planned on dying.  The disciples still did not seem to understand the basis on which Jesus could forgive sins nor how a righteous God could accept them into a kingdom of people with pure hearts.  But Jesus was slowly revealing Himself to be God’s perfect provision as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world as John the Baptist had declared (Jn. 1:29) and Isaiah had prophesied (Isaiah 53:6).

Ever since they began following Jesus, the disciples had spent most of their years with Him in the region of Galilee although they did go to the required annual pilgrim feasts in Jerusalem: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  There is also some evidence that they may have attended a few other festivals there but most of the time they had been in Galilee.  And now they begin to think about an upcoming final sorrowful journey to Jerusalem this next Passover.

Peter’s Opposition

But Peter is having none of it.  Perhaps still hearing Jesus’ praise for His recent outburst ringing in his ears, he blurted out: “Far be it from you, Lord!”  (In Greek, it is a cry to heaven for help!  Sort of like “Heaven, help us, Lord!”)  May God talk some sense into you, Lord!  How ironic!  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and now Peter is crying for help from heaven to subdue His madness!  Jesus just told him that whatever he forbids on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven.  But this really is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  This is heaven’s plan.  Peter, don’t forbid God anything. 

This time your outburst is not from the Spirit of God. And, indeed, Jesus now turns to Peter and says, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are a hindrance to me.  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  What a rebuke!  Six verses earlier he was blessed by God who revealed to Him that Jesus was the Messiah.  Now he is being used by Satan!  Yes, the devil can use believers.  How?  By their mindset.  Where is our mindset?  Is it set on the things of man or of God?  This is why our minds need to be renewed.

Some who claim to represent God and His Church say that Jesus was mistaken and didn’t need to die.  He was just a martyr, they say.  Jesus’ words to Peter could be addressed to them as well.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

Peter was not struggling to believe in Jesus.  His struggle was with the common tendency we all have to use earthly thinking instead of God’s.  Jesus had just revealed God’s plan and Peter’s first instinct is to resist God’s will just like we all sometimes find ourselves doing.  1)  We don’t want to change our thinking when challenged by His Word.  2) We are using man-centered thinking instead of God-centered thinking.  This was the same thing the Pharisees struggled with.

Orders and Invitations

In verse 24, Jesus reveals the heavenly orders that He is following and now he reveals the orders for his disciples.   He opens by saying, “If anyone would come after me.”  In Greek, it is very similar to what He said to Peter in verse 23!  The phrase “Get behind me,” is the same in the original as what is translated “follow me.”    The slightly different connotation is what has affected the difference in translation.  He did not say, “if you wish” to Satan.  “Get behind” me or “follow me” is a military phrase meaning to line up behind me or stand in line behind me.  Get in formation.  Jesus orders Satan to get with the program but with us he asks, “if you wish.”  He is asking us to choose to follow Him.  Now, is Satan going to meekly follow Jesus as a true disciple?  No, he will require orders every time.  When Jesus asks us to follow Him, He gives us a choice now but, there will come a time of reckoning. 

So, yes, I will follow Jesus.  So, what shall I do, Lord?  It’s not easy but it can be done.  Here it is: 

1) Deny yourself,

2) Take up your cross, and

3) Follow me (there it is again!). 

This is not telling us how to become a believer.  It’s addressed to believers.  It is what a believer is asked to do. The disciples, including Peter, have already shown that they believe.  This is what our Savior and Lord wants those who say they believe in Him to do.  He wants us to voluntarily choose to put our self-serving egos off the throne of our lives and die to the life dedicated to myself and just follow Jesus. 

So, what is “taking up our cross?”  Bearing one’s cross referred to the public humiliation of a person sentenced to die carrying his own cross through the streets in view of his neighbors and family.  Jesus uses this illustration to make a bold contrast with the proud heart that refuses to serve others in self-denial.

Jesus wants willing servants who voluntarily follow Christ and get in line behind Him.  We go where He says to go.  We say what He tells us to say.  We do what He wants us to do. 

Ultimate Gain

Then Jesus delivers the punch line.  “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses (forfeits) his soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”    The two extremes that hang in the balance for us are “loss” and “gain.” Our natural tendency is to invest in prolonging and pampering our days in this sin-cursed world.  But Jesus offers us an eternal perspective.

It was the 20^th century martyr, Jim Eliot, who penned this most poignant couplet to explain Jesus’ words: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  Regardless of our best efforts, we eventually die and then what is left? Those who believe in Jesus’ promise of eternal life will not come into condemnation but are (already) passed from death unto life (John 5:24).  There is nothing we have that we can give to buy eternal life regardless of how many worldly possessions we might have.  So, do our efforts have any value to God at all?  Jesus is saying, “Yes, but not for prolonging your mortal life.”  Instead of investing our lives for profit in this world’s values, put your efforts into heaven’s values—a profit you cannot lose—even after death.

Jesus asks us to make a choice as a believer knowing that there will come a day when heaven’s profit and loss report will be issued.  In verse 27, Jesus added this warning: “For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”  In this context, Jesus seems to be referring to the “judgment seat of Christ” where believer’s works are tried by fire and those that remain are rewarded while those that do not suffer loss. 

It is interesting that the same Greek word Jesus uses for “loss” in verse 26, Paul also uses in a further explanation of this teaching.  1 Cor. 3:10-15 says: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”  Yes, a believer can suffer “loss” at the judgment seat of Christ.  There the works of those who believe—their building on the Foundation—will be judged to see what has been done for the Lord and if it is good work it will be rewarded.  Bad work will be burned up.  Even though they may suffer some “loss” (of rewards) believers, will be saved by the Foundation.  So, this is referring to rewards beyond salvation.

(Later there will be the great white throne judgment (AKA the last judgment) in Revelation 20 where the works of unbelievers are judged.  This judgment results in eternal condemnation and separation from God.)

Who will volunteer to line up behind the King of angel armies and serve Him instead of our old pursuits?  Rewards in heaven or false promises of glory in this life? 

© 2018 Eric Thimell