ResponsiveReiding

From Matthew 7:1-6 / Judging and Judgment – It used to be that the most quoted verse in the Bible was John 3:16. No more. Today, the most ubiquitous Biblical citation in the culture is: “Judge not, that you be not judged.” As though naming any person’s actions, or anything at all as “wrong” is somehow contradiction the teaching of Scripture. It isn’t.

As is often the case with quote-rs of Scripture, one phrase can be latched on to and absolutized so as to both wrest it out of its immediate context, and distort it from the greater teaching of the Bible as a whole. Nor is this error to be seen only in unbelievers. Sadly, all too often, Christians do it too. We’ll see that in verses 7-11. And in this case, one need only look at vs. 5 where someone is judged a “hypocrite”, and vs. 6 where some are judged to not be worthy of that which is “holy” and “pearls.” Some amount of judging has to be going on there.

The “judgment” being referred to in the entire context refers both to simple determinations (is it better to brush my teeth with toothpaste over dish washing liquid?) – and, as in verse 2 reveals – it may be connected with actually imposing some sort of penalty on others. It is not that we are to be blind to right and wrong, but that we are not to become judge, jury and executioner. Let God carry out the penalties. As individuals, and especially as dealing with other peoples faults and sins, we are not to be spiritual vigilantes. God will take note if we are constantly critical and censorious.

Jesus’ simile of the ship’s mast or telephone pole versus the speck is truly useful. When approaching another brother or sister regarding their sin, take care. If you have done the hard work of taking the log out of your own eye first, then you should have great compassion for the other person. You know how gingerly and carefully it must be done. You know the eye is sensitive and injured easily. You know the stakes are high – that blindness can ensue. Note how the “log” and the “speck” are the very same material. But how that material when clouding our vision, makes it impossible to treat properly what might be a much lesser version of our own sin in others. We do not swash-buckle our way into other people’s faults, failures and sins. (Gal. 6:1)

But then note lastly a judgment which must be made in vs. 6.

No one is being called a dog or a pig. The simile is that we do not put certain things in front of those who can have no appreciation for them. Wisdom is being called for here. Once one becomes a Christian, all manner of family treasures are opened up and distributed. to us But one cannot have – nor appreciate family privileges, until they are indeed part of the family. They can have SOME, but not the most intimate. Do not bestow the treasures or privileges of the kingdom on those still outside of it. What might that look like? 4 examples might help: a. Baptism belongs to those who believe. None other. b. Do not tell those who are walking contrary to the Gospel that it will be well with them, it won’t. c. Do not bring unbelievers to the Lord’s table. d. Do not intimate that those outside of Christ may live in the privileges that belong only to those IN Him.

We must make certain judgments. But we are not to be judgmental. So it is Christ judged us dead in our trespasses and sins, and yet in due time, died for us. He did not disdain or despise us in our sin, but pitied us, and moved Heaven and earth so that we might be reconciled to the Father. That same Spirit is to motivate us toward others.

From Matthew 6:25-34 / Anti-Anxiety Medicine – Some medical conditions are chronic, ongoing. And due to the way sin has impacted our souls, we possess chronic soul maladies as well. And among the most destructive of these, is the scourge of anxiety.

It is true that because we are a soul/body nexus, sometimes feelings of anxiety can be brought on by medications, too much caffeine and a host of other dietary or organic disorders. But then there is the anxiety Christ is addressing in this passage; the nasty trait of not keeping sweeping, controlling spiritual truths as static realities in the mind. A kind of spiritual forgetfulness of the reality of how much God loves His blood-bought sons and daughters. How He truly and constantly cares and provides for them, and want them to live free from certain worries so that they might give themselves over to the contemplation and pursuit of higher, richer, soul nourishing matters.

Jesus’ point here is, that such is God’s care for all of His creatures, that He provides for humblest, frailest and most temporary of all. And how much more then for those who are His by faith. How much more attention He pays to their needs, so that they might give their care to things of higher concern – even the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. All ending with the promise that if you give yourself to this, you need not fret over the other.

I don’t know about you, but I need a daily dose of the medication of this passage each day. Multiple times a day. To force my own mind to reckon with Jesus’ words here. To consciously reject intruding thoughts of concern over life’s basics, if at the same time I give myself over to the seeking of His Lordship in my heart and mind, and dwelling on the righteousness of Christ imputed to me by faith, so that I might also live it out by the power of the Spirit. To take myself in hand at times, and look to the cross, fixing on it as the place where His love for me is so wondrously and incomprehensibly displayed – that if He would do this to secure my soul, then what won’t He do to bring me safely home, and meet my every need along the way?

O me of little faith.

Father forgive me.

Holy Spirit, ever remind me.

From Matthew 6:19-24 / Storing up Treasure – There is much to consider in this matter of storing up treasure in Heaven.

In the first place, we see that “do not lay up” and the following “lay up”, are in the imperative. They are not suggestions, but commands of Christ. They deserve high attention. But I wonder how many of us ever actually think this way consciously?

Secondly, note the contrast – earthly treasures, no matter what they are, physical possessions, money of whatever kind, family, reputation, career, accomplishments, the praise of men, some imagined sense of well-being – all will perish. Only what is stored up in Heaven will remain. How that behooves us to consider what that might be.

Thirdly, whatever we value most, is what we love most – no matter what else we might proclaim. Fourth – what we value and love most, will color all of life. This is the lens through which we see everything.

And lastly, no matter what, we can only have one person or thing which claims our supreme devotion. Why? Because God rightly demands it be Him. So it is the specific “treasures” He refers to in vs. 19, are probably the praises of men – outlined in the 3 examples above. It is earthly treasure in EVERY sense. Whatever I consider valuable within this fallen system – not the least of which is recognition by others. The plural “treasures” in 19, then converts to the single “treasure” of 21 with this result:

I must have 1 treasure –

I must know it is not a part of this earthly and material existence –

I must be applying myself to laying that treasure up in Heaven as my primary pursuit.

What then is the treasure which can be increased in Heaven?

Jonathan Edwards would put it like this: For what can we have there but either more or less of Christ? An increased capacity to know, love, revel in and experience Him. And we can have more or less based on our intentional pursuit. To love Him and grow in love for Him now, will result in my having the joy of Him in greater ways then.

What a glory to look forward to. And why?

Let me give it to you in the words of John Flavel I’ve quoted so often before: “  It is a special consideration to enhance the love of God in giving Christ, that in giving him he gave the richest jewel in his cabinet; a mercy of the greatest worth, and most inestimable value, Heaven itself is not so valuable and precious as Christ is: He is the better half of heaven; and so the saints account him, Psal. 73:25. “Whom have I in heaven but thee?” Ten thousand thousand worlds, saith one,* as many worlds as angels can number, and then as a new world of angels can multiply, would not all be the bulk of a balance, to weigh Christ’s excellency, love, and sweetness. O what a fair One! what an only One! what an excellent, lovely, ravishing One, is Christ! Put the beauty of ten thousand paradises, like the garden of Eden, into one; put all trees, all flowers, all smells, all colours, all tastes, all joys, all sweetness, all loveliness in one; O what a fair and excellent thing would that be? And yet it should be less to that fair and dearest well-beloved Christ, than one drop of rain to the whole seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains of ten thousand earths. Christ is heaven’s wonder, and earth’s wonder. Now, for God to bestow the mercy of mercies, the most precious thing in heaven or earth, upon poor sinners; and, as great, as lovely, as excellent as his Son was, yet not to account him too good to bestow upon us, what manner of love is this!¹

¹ Flavel, John. The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel. W. Baynes and Son; Waugh and Innes; M. Keene, 1820, pp. 67–68.TM

From Matthew 6:14-15 / Forgiveness isn’t a simple matter. Nor is the whole of it unpacked here. But here are some considerations. Note first in context, that this need for forgiveness of others is directly connected to being led out of temptation. For nothing kills the true spirit of prayer than a hard heart toward others while we are seeking God’s tenderheartedness toward us. Such is the heart of hypocrisy. Second, law cannot forgive, law can only mete out justice. At times it may pardon, but it cannot forgive, because forgiveness is personal. By the same token forgiveness does not automatically relieve from penalty. Pardon is unmerited, but may also be personal and/or disinterested personally, yet is linked to the exercise of authority. Thus in true reconciliation all of these elements are needed. Two parties may pardoned one another but still not reconciled. But in forgiveness, personal reconciliation is the goal. And in absolute justice, a declaration of innocence is indispensable. In Christ, all of these are met. He takes our sin and we His righteousness. The Father personally forgives. In His sovereign authority He pardons. And in grace He imputes righteousness that we may be rewarded. Third, we must be aware that God does not forgive at the expense of justice, and thus He does not require us to do more than that and forgive without regard to justice either. When He forgives, He does so on the basis of the atonement made in Christ where justice is meted out in full. So it is, when we forgive, we give up our right to prosecute the matter on our own behalf, surrendering the justice needed into the hands of the Father. We do not deny justice altogether but willingly suffer a particular loss in treating the individual as no longer an offender, while committing justice into the Father’s hands. Yet, while forgiving sets aside any personal vengeance, it does not ignore what might be needed in loving our neighbors as ourselves and protecting them, and, if needed, getting the authorities involved. Forgiveness only has reference to my right and requirement to be made whole in the aftermath of being sinned against. Fourth, note too, that some offenses are purely personal – and others have several dimensions to to them. Some offenses cross over into crimes and are sins against the State or others as well. I have no right to usurp the State’s, nor anyone else’s authority and forgive on either’s behalf. The offender may well still need to face that reality beyond my sphere of forgiveness. Overstating forgiveness is as dangerous as understating it. I must forgive when it is in my power and within my sphere, but I cannot and must not usurp that issue on behalf of any other entity. I can only forgive for myself alone. And I do so, committing it all to the Father’s just disposal. On the cross, Jesus can forgive His tormentors for Himself, but note how He prays that the Father would forgive them. For He cannot overstep in the issue of His Father’s offense. This, He appeals to the Father for. And when we forgive, we do well to follow suit. Fifth, note too how Jesus cannot and will not usurp the Spirit’s own sphere and pretend to forgive blasphemy against Him. Lastly, note how there is a difference between forgiveness in restoring relationship, vs. simple offenses from strangers where there is no relationship to restore. And how it is Christ does all of this in regard to our sins against Him.

From Matthew 6:9-13 / Praying then like this: Recognition and reverence; Looking to the fullness of God’s plans and purposes as the ideal sought; Personal submission to God’s will and the benefit of it as universal; Personal lack and dependency confessed and met in Christ; Personal and corporate guilt – met in Christ; Personal refusal to rely upon self and recognition of self-deceit and and the enemy – to be met in Christ. 1. Recognize who it is you are praying to – Your Father and Christ’s. Revel in the relationship. Let it sink in that Christ’s death has purchased this place for you. The Father will hear you as really as He will Christ Himself. Note that your Heavenly Father offers what earthly Fathers so often fail at: a. Safety. You are always safe with Him as your Father. He will not leave. He is not peevish. You can speak freely, un-guardedly, without any pretense. b. Acceptance. Even when we fail Him, He does not reject us. He receives us. There is no hint of keeping us at arm’s length. He knows our every quirk and oddity and is not put off by it. He delights in His children. c. Approval. Even though He cannot approve of all we do – He approves of us AS His children. He owns us as His – happily so. He encourages us when fall. He is as excited at our successes as we are – more so. This is MY child! “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” – is ours by extension – for we are IN CHRIST. And note how all the pronouns are: Personal, Plural. Note the Position of the One to whom we pray. He is ruling and reigning over all. 2. Revere His glory in your own heart and mind. Nothing more reveals the and mind of Jesus than this petition. And as His slaves – we are to be about His business -engaged in His priorities and pursuits. And this is HIS passion – that the universe would be restored to the place where every sentient being knows, and loves His Father even as He does. This is reconciling all things to God in Christ. As Paul unfolds so powerfully in Romans, it is man not honoring God AS God which is at the very bottom of all human rebellion, sin and the destruction which follows it. Oh for that day when every creature will once again truly honor God as is fitting His glory, and our creation. 3. When we see Him “as He is” we are transformed to be like Him. What a goal! To have our whole beings – and thus the universe – slaves of His love. Governed by grace. 4. Can there be a more glorious existence imaginable than for His will to be absolutely carried out without challenge or opposition of any kind?

5. More of Christ TO us. 6. More of Christ THROUGH us. 7. More of Christ IN us.

Father – I want to know you in such a way – that the preciousness of who you are becomes my all consuming passion: and that others would come to know you as I have. Hallowed be your name. So then – help me find you out! Have first PLACE in my heart – Be my highest PRIORITY. Be my highest PASSION. Be to me all of life’s PROVISION. Let no earthly thing draw me more than you, and no earthly thing frighten me above you. Hallowed be your name.

From Matthew 6:5-8 / Prayer part 1 – From the earliest days of humankind, concourse with God has been a reality. This is true in the first place because “God is a speaking God” as D. A. Carson is wont to say. And as Genesis 2 notes, as soon as God made Adam and placed him in the Garden, “the Lord God commanded the man, saying” (Gen. 2:16). Prayer at its most basic is simply speaking to God. What we pray for and how we pray is as varied as the flowers of the field. But that we are meant to pray, to hold discourse with God is evident. The problem is, sin has horribly impacted the connection. So it is we read the wonder of what Jesus has done in this regard in Eph. 2:18 “through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father”; and Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” Indeed, our text here in Matthew is founded upon the privilege of prayer. And the Father, in His great accommodation to the damage sin has done to us, does not leave us alone with dulled ears that cannot hear His voice correctly – but has written His Word that we might consult it, study it, and hear Him with a clarity we no longer possess the capacity for. But make no mistake, of all Christ has won for us, access to the Father through the Spirit is a benefit that simply cannot be overstated. When Spurgeon was asked which was more important, reading the Bible or prayer, he quipped “which should I chose, inhaling or exhaling? I need both to live.” And so it is. The great subject matters of prayer Jesus Himself introduces in the next section. But in this opening part He emphasizes 4 things: First -our prayers are not to be uttered so as to gain the approval of others. Those who do so, will find the only thing they gain from their prayers is just that – the approval of others. But nothing from the Father. Prayer is not about how we sound to others, but the gasping of “abba, Father” to our Heavenly Father’s ears. Second, private prayer is more important than public prayer. Indeed, if there is no private prayer, public prayer is less than useless; it is only show. For in private, we truly commune one on one, and trust He will answer accordingly. Third, prayer can easily become superstitious – a matter of repeating the same phrases over and over as if repetition magically makes things happen. Nor is it dependent upon physical posture (lying down, sitting, standing, kneeling, prostrate, etc.), or the use of Elizabethan speech patterns as though the use of “thee and thou” are also magic words that unlock prayer’s power. Fourth, prayer is to be entered into in faith – believing, more- KNOWING the Father knows what you need before you even ask Him. Trusting His care for you. Freeing you up to give your attention to His priorities, since He has already taken notice of your before you pray. This is praying in faith. This is praying in the Spirit. “It is clear that he does not pray, who, far from uplifting himself to God, requires that God shall lower Himself to him, and who resorts to prayer not to stir up the man in us to will what God wills, but only to persuade God to will what the man in us wills.” Thomas Aquinas.

From Matthew 6:1-4 / WHEN you give – 3 things. Note first: The idea here isn’t that everything must be done in secret, but rather that the motive must not be for the admiration of people, but for the pleasure of God. We do what we do that HE might see and be pleased, like a child seeking his or her parent’s approval – and no one else’s. This then will serve to build integrity in us. For this principle remains whether we are alone or in a crowd. We remain consistent for it is not for the approval or disapproval of any other but our Heavenly Father Himself – whether alone in the dark, or on the street corner. Note second: The idea is not that we might somehow earn brownie points or EARN His favor, but like a little child who learns a trick or a skill and then says to the parent “look at me”. Not out of great pride, but out of wanting the approbation of the one they love and look up to most. And oh how our Father, loves to see this in His children. How He delights in us. And how He responds with such joy and approval. Though the acts are so trifling in themselves, He looks upon us with such tenderness. Note third: As also with praying (5-6) and fasting (7-8) the operative word in each is WHEN, not “if”, when. There is an assumption on Jesus’ part that those who are His, will have bountiful hearts like His. When He turned the water into wine @ Cana, it hundreds of gallons. Far more than needed. When He fed the 5,000 there were 12 basketfuls of leftovers. When He fed the 4,000 there was again an abundance of more. In Luke 5 when He told Peter to let down his net again after catching nothing all night – the filled two boats nearly to the point of sinking. And when He died for our sins, grace abounded far more than our sins. There is no sin so great, so long indulged in, so heinous that the blood of the Lamb of God is not sufficient for – and not just for one – but if the whole world to repent and call out to Him. He gives and gives and gives. And without ostentation. Every drop pf water could be inscribed – proved by The Son. Ever leaf could bear the stamp of His name. He makes the sun to rise and the rains to fall on the just as well as the unjust. And John reminds is in 1 John 2 that if we do sin – we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He, is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Not only is there no lack in Him, there is abundance beyond our ability to imagine. Believer, look to Him for everything. And give out of the abundance that has been given to you. Unbeliever – come. His blood is sufficient, even for you.

From Matthew 5:43-48 / What if? – In the age of social media, news “pundits”, endless op-ed venues and “cancel culture” – what if prayer for those who oppose our views or we theirs – dominated over discourse? What if? What if we actually prayed for them, and not just about them? What if we took just 1 minute out of every 5 of tirade, conversation and complaint to ask God to bless those who vex us so? What if for every skewering post we pass on to others, we offer up another one that shines the light of the Gospel? What if we began to be truly broken over how our fallenness in Adam has poisoned our minds so, that we wept for the abortionists as well as for their victims? What if every time we groaned to one another about the state of wickedness around us, we closed by turning one another’s eyes back to our Sovereign God? What if for every newspaper or online article we read castigating our enemies, we stopped and prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”? What if we shined the light of Jesus’ substitutionary death, every time – or even in place of – cursing the darkness? Christians are realists. We do not and should not ignore nor whitewash evil. We are duty bound to call it out for what it is. But if we stop there, and do not bring the Gospel in along side; if we do not seek the good of those whose ideas and actions we oppose (and they ours), we’ve done nothing more than any still lost and outside of saving grace. But what if we stopped fighting the fire of this age with the same fire, but instead, were ignited in prayer to weep with the Spirit’s fire? What if the Spirit of the One who “while we were enemies” completed the work of reconciliation to the Father, spilled over just a bit into us. What if we took Jesus seriously here? What if?

From Matthew 5:38-42 / Above and Beyond. If there is a misunderstood portion of Scripture that is nearly universally misunderstood, it is Jesus’ quotation in vs. 38 of

Exodus 21:24 / Lev. 24:20. Most commonly this dictum is assumed to be sanctioning harsh retribution. In fact, the concept is to prevent over-punishment. Justice is to be meted out equitably. One cannot sue for millions of dollars over a paper cut. Justice needs to be administered, but only in proper proportion. And in the context of what Jesus is saying here, is that for Christians, we are to deal with one another on an even higher scale – going above and beyond in manifesting the grace of God toward others. Don’t immediately retaliate in kind when there are personal affronts. Go one better. Get a thicker skin. And if someone has a legitimate case against you so as to sue you – don’t make bare satisfaction. Make more than amends, go one better. And if the government overreaches some – don’t become incalcitrant – flex as far as you can. Go one better. And in lending to those who borrow, be generous. Go one better. Give, and it will be given unto you. Now is this all about ethics? Not on your life. True, the principle has ethical implications. But the point is – this is how God deals with us. It is a practical exposition of Romans 5:20 “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” God in His love and grace goes far beyond merely forgiving our sin, He counts us righteous with the righteousness of Christ. And He doesn’t stop there – He adopts us into His family. Nor does He stop there, for He promises us eternal life. And beyond that He is determined that He will “demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7 – NET). To make us experience the lavish and endless waves of His kindness toward us for all eternity. As Annie Johnson Flint’s famous refrains remind us:

1. He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

4. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Note: Annie’s Mother died giving birth to Annie’s sister. Annie was only 3. A kindly “Aunt” (not a blood relative) cared for the 2 girls for 2 years, as their Father was terminally ill and would die a short time later. This “Aunt” prevailed upon a couple to take Annie and her sister in, and they adopted them. Under their tutelage, Annie was taken to Church and revivals and came to faith in Christ at the age of 8. When but a teenager, she and her sister were orphaned a second time. And shortly after that, Annie began manifesting severe arthritis which became debilitating over time. Within 2 years, she could no longer work as a teacher. She spent more than 40 years without a pain free day. As she grew worse, that same “Aunt” made arrangements to bring her to a sanitarium in Clifton Springs NY, where she would live out her days. She supported herself creating hand-lettered greeting and Christmas cards with her poems. A ministry she would continue throughout her life and always in severe pain. Where the ravages of what sin brought into the world – Annie showed that God’s grace abounded all the more. So her song lyrics attest so sweetly.

From Matthew 5:33-37 / Knowing God – As Jesus continues through these 6 “you have heard” statements, it is easy to miss the backdrop of them in favor of just seeing them as injunctions for us to follow. Each one, tells us something of the nature of God Himself. And having been created as His image-bearers, Jesus is unpacking the reality that our problem is not one of mere, mechanical obedience, but that our basic nature has been so polluted by sin, it no longer bears His image. Why is hatred in the heart an issue? Because it is contrary to the very nature of God. Why is adultery so important as an expression of the lust behind it? Because God is holy, and so lust is not in His nature. Why is the issue of divorce important? Because God is ever faithful. Or our portion today, that of bearing false witness. God is a God of truth. His word is always to be trusted. If your word cannot be trusted without an oath, something is very wrong. There is a fundamental soul problem. In 38-42 – God is not petty and vengeful, but merciful and gracious even to His enemies. If it were not so, there would be no salvation at all. And in 43-48, though He will in time judge all sin and sinners in perfect justice, He nevertheless is merciful and gracious and kind and blesses His enemies day in and day out. Jesus’ call to us here is not a plea for behavior modification, but of showing us how desperately we need Him. How in our deepest parts sin has corrupted and defiled us. That our basic problem is that we have lost the true image of God we were meant to reflect to the cosmos. And so He clearly and carefully lays out the case of why we are in such need of saving. And in a very short time, He will Himself become the means of that salvation by dying on the Cross for our sin, for our corruption, for our defilement, rebellion, and every expression of it in life. He will make an atonement in His own blood. A means of satisfaction for all who will believe. So that we might be reconciled to the Father, and one day, find His image wholly restored in us. Oh how precious our Jesus is.