Matthew 20:1-16

The owner of the vineyard speaking: Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? (v. 15) I’m not sure why this verse struck me, but I made it personal, as if I were the person asking the question. And immediately I came up with the answer, “No!”. I am not … allowed to do what I choose …! First, the key phrase is …what belongs to me. Because none of what we have “belongs” to us. We are stewards of what God has given us. Many Sundays at the offering we say: “All things come of Thee, O LORD, and of Thine own have we given Thee.” (quoting I Chronicles 29:11) And that needs to be our perspective. Second, no, we should not take the position that “we are allowed to do what we choose”. I daresay that much of what is difficult in our lives is the result of bad choices that we have made. We cannot on our own know what’s best for us – Adam and Eve proved that in the Garden. In addition, as stewards we have a responsibility for what has been given to us. We should engage in serious prayer as to how we choose to spend our $$. So even though this verse 15 is the owner of the vineyard (God) speaking, out of context it also speaks to us.

See also: August 11 / Matt. 20:1-16

Luke 18:18-30

The “rich, young ruler”, the finale! Comparing the three accounts… First, Matthew and Mark each list six “commandments”, but for each of them their sixth is not one of the original Mt. Sinai commandments. Matthew has …love your neighbor as yourself (v. 19), while Mark’s sixth is “Do not defraud…” (v. 19). Neither of them mentions “Do not covet…”, which seems to be the young man’s main problem, his love for his wealth. Luke mentions only five commandments. Second, when Jesus mentions the rewards that will come to those who follow Him, only Mark adds “…with persecutions” (v. 30). On that item, I think of converts in Muslim countries who become outcasts from their families and communities. Bethany Tennent has talked about this outcome as one of the major difficulties the Alagwa people have in following Jesus. Third, I already mentioned two days ago about Matthew’s inclusion of the disciples’ sitting on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel; only Matthew includes this item. Fourth, none of these gospels specifically mentions a “rich, young ruler”. Both Matthew and Mark speak of “a man” or “someone”, and Matthew calls the man “young” in verses 20 and 22; only Luke calls him “a ruler”. Finally, all three Synoptic writers include the line, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, a clear warning to those of us in our wealthy USA environment to be careful for the extent to which we are “coveting” (think, serving), our wealth.

I’m sure there are other differences between the three Synoptic gospels. Please feel free to mention some that I have not included.

All in all, this story of the “rich, young ruler” is worthy of our three days’ study!

See also: August 10 / Luke 18:18-30

Mark 10:17-31

The rich, young ruler: Act II, Scene 2. One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor… (v. 21b) Again, as Debbie pointed out yesterday and two years ago, it seems like the young man’s wealth was keeping him from seeking Jesus more completely. But Jesus was asking quite a bit from this young man, to sell it all. I was trying to think of anyone in our lifetime who had “sold it all”. Two people immediately came to mind – Bethany Tennent and Mark/Tommie Bruner. They left “the world” behind to follow Jesus. But even they had a “life line” back to their “sending organizations” and churches and individuals who were supporting their ministry.

So what about Jesus’ disciples… Consider: After Jesus rose from the dead, within days or weeks Peter went back to fishing (John 21). I mentioned in my posts from 2019 that Peter (and Andrew, James, and John?) must have had a fairly large fishing business, so did Peter maintain ownership and leave someone in charge when he left to follow Jesus? After all, Peter was married and had responsibilities for his household, including his mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31). Did he leave it all behind or did he have that “life line” back to his former life? We can presume that after John 21 that Peter did, in fact, leave it all behind. His activities on the day of Pentecost seem to lock him in forever.

So Debbie’s comments and my further ruminations above give me some solace – that we are not called to sell everything and give the proceeds to the poor. But to the extent that our possessions (or our behaviors?) are holding us back from seeking Jesus more fully, then those possessions/behaviors need to be set aside. So the question for me (and for each of the rest of you?) – what am I holding back?

See also: August 9 / Mark 10:17-31

Matthew 19:16-30

Back to the “rich, young ruler” again… This incident of a young man coming to Jesus, asking about eternal life appears in each of the Synoptic Gospels, so we will be reading different accounts of this incident today and the next two days.

Almost every time I read this story I find myself somewhat guilted out as to whether I am doing enough. (See my 2019 comments below.) But today I had a different thought. In the past I have said that I often consider Jesus speaking to His disciples back then as Him speaking to us today. So here’s Jesus speaking from today’s reading: Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (v. 28) Those of us sharing these readings are following Jesus – so will we be sitting on thrones judging others? Unfortunately I don’t find it in my ability-set to be able to sit in judgment of others! I don’t know fully what Jesus means in that statement, but it certainly is a more positive statement than my reactions to this story in the past.

So today, even though Carol and I have not sold all our possessions and given that to the poor (v. 21b) we are following Jesus. If we fall short by holding on to our possessions as we follow Him – well, we leave that to Jesus and we ask His Holy Spirit to guide us further. More reflections on the “rich, young ruler” tomorrow…

See also: August 8 / Matt.19:16-30

Mark 10:1-16 and Luke 18:15-17

I noticed something different in Mark’s coverage of divorce in today’s reading compared to Matthew’s in yesterday’s reading. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus allows for the wife to initiate the divorce: Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery. (vv. 11b-12) I don’t know what to make of Jesus having the wife take the lead, but it does seem to contradict Jewish teaching back then where women seem to have few privileges and no social standing.

Two years ago when we read this passage from Mark I posted an item that Archbishop Beach had written the day before. That item is in my comments in the first link below.

Coming as a little child… My Study Bible had noted that a child’s relationship with a parent includes dependence, trust, openness, and sincerity. Two years ago I had written peace, confidence, expectation, and comfort (the second link below). So all those emotions and attributes are part of a child’s relationship to a parent – that’s what’s available to us in our relationship to God. That’s awesome!

See also: August 6 / Mark 10:1-16; August 7 / Luke 18:15-17

Matthew 19:1-15

The Chronological Study Bible makes the point that we are now shifting our geographical location, that Jesus is back in Judea and we will not see Him in Galilee again. Luke had made that point specifically in Luke 9:51, that Jesus had “set His face to go to Jerusalem”. Much of the reading that we have done the past couple of weeks has been during Jesus’ travels on this trip. With today’s reading, now it’s only a matter of time before He goes to the cross. (But it will take us two months to get there!)

I was watching a baseball game yesterday. An ex-player, a star when he was playing who is now an announcer talked about bringing his son to meet a current baseball player, one of his son’s “idols”. I thought of my own childhood when I “idolized” baseball stars and of me and my friends trying to get autographs of these players. I also thought about Hollywood stars and people idolizing them and seeking autographs. In today’s reading, Jesus is a star! See the following two verses: And large crowds followed Him… (v. 2a) and Then little children were brought to Him that he might lay His hands on them and pray. (v. 13) More “autograph seekers”…??!!

Jesus speaking: And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. (v. 9) Both of my Study Bibles noted that all three synoptic writers cover this discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about divorce, but that Matthew was the only one of the three where Jesus allowed for the exception, “except for sexual immorality”. In Mark and Luke Jesus does not make this allowance. In looking further at this exception, I saw that this is the second time where Matthew has Jesus making this divorce exception. During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus makes the same statement as in verse 9 above (see Matthew 5:32). Interesting. I had not seen that before.

See also: August 5 / Matt. 19:1-15

Luke 18:1-14

The (parable) Pharisee speaking: God, I thank you that I am not like other men … I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. (vv. 11b-12) All too often I see myself as a Pharisee. Again in this parable, more of the same. No, I do not fast twice a week, but I do see myself doing “good works” that support our church efforts. And yes, I do wonder at others in our church who are regular attendees who do not seem to be active at a higher level – I have no right to even begin to question their behavior; I have no idea what their personal life is like! Tithing (giving in general) is a third issue mentioned in Jesus’ parable, but I don’t think Carol and I are self-congratulatory on that item like this Pharisee; rather, we are thankful for all that God has given us and we strive to be good stewards of those resources. Still, with it all, the overarching message of the parable hits me. I am too easily self-justified and not nearly humble enough! We’re back to the topic of repentance again…

See also: August 4 / Luke 18:1-14

Luke 17:20-37

RTNT 2021. …He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (vv. 20b-21) In the book Heaven the author, Randy Alcorn argues extensively that we are living in Heaven, that our Earth – in a glorified state – is the future Heaven. So when Jesus says that the kingdom of God is in the midst of you, He could be speaking specifically of “Heaven on Earth”. That is, His words could be taken both literally (a physical Earth) and figuratively (spiritually, within each of us).

In verses 26 to 29 Jesus talks of the people who are living normal lives in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot. I fear that we are living in those days all over again – …eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage … buying and selling, planting and building… And those days resulted in a flood in Noah’s time and fire and brimstone on Sodom. More specifically I think of our current days more like Sodom. Jesus mentions marrying and being given in marriage in Noah’s time, but not in Lot’s time. Likewise, our own traditional institution of marriage (in many lives) has fallen out of our culture. I can picture fire and brimstone falling down on Sodom. I wonder what fire and brimstone awaits us.

See also: August 3 / Luke 17:20-37

Luke 17:1-19

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (v. 5) This verse has always struck me as somewhat funny. It’s what the apostles said after Jesus had told them to forgive their brother seven times if he repented seven times! Yeah, I can relate to the apostles. If someone keeps offending me and keeps telling me that s/he is sorry, do I really buy it? I’m one who wants to see a change in behavior!! When I was teaching I could “forgive” a student one or two times for missing an exam or being late on a homework, but beyond that I had little mercy. But I guess that’s a different situation.

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” (v. 10) Yesterday I posted that God asks so little of us – only repentance and prayer/praise – that our works mean little to the Lord compared to repentance and prayer. Today’s verse 10 says the same thing. We should do what is expected of us with no expectation that we are anything special because of what we’ve done. But unfortunately my pride often gets in the way when I am doing the Lord’s work. All too often I want to be recognized for what I’ve done or (at a minimum) appreciated for what I do. It would be nice if I could be truly humble. Again, I’m airing my dirty laundry to the rest of you. But I feel that we are brothers and sisters in the Lord and that I can feel safe in so doing. And we hear time and again that confession is good for the soul.

See also: August 1 / Luke 17:1-10; August 2 / Luke 17:11-19

Matthew 18:15-35

Repentance and forgiveness… Which is easier, to repent or to forgive? Maybe a better question is – which is harder? And where am I, where are you, on repentance and forgiveness?

Repentance and forgiveness… I’m trying to think of any bigger item between us and God than repentance – our need for sincere, daily repentance. Only one other item comes to mind – prayer, and its subset, praise. It’s all that our Father wants – our repentance before Him and our prayer with Him, our praise to Him. Our “works” are nice, but He has billions of people and an infinite number of angels who can get His work done. Sincere repentance, humble prayer, genuine praise. It’s not too much to ask. So why is it so hard…??!!

See also: July 30 / Matt. 18:15-20; July 31 / Matt. 18:21-35