Filed under: Christ Likeness, God's Will, Grace, Kingdom of God, Salvation, Sin
As I’m preparing for the question 3 and I am becoming acutely aware of how much we as Christians proof text verses without really looking at what is bookending the verses we often quote. My next question is on Matthew 7:13-14…
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (NIV)
Man…I’ve seen that verse so many times, and it’s always been a downer for me, just reading it it looks like defeat. That no matter how hard we try, only a few people will really be saved. Many people will go to hell. However…as I look at the verses leading up to that statement, then looking at the verses afterward, one must ask…does this really have anything to do with how many people make it “in” and how many people are “out?”
I’ve been struggling so much lately asking myself the emphasis we as Christians need to be placing on “sharing the gospel” in the sense of a salvation prayer. Are we really supposed to be notching it up on our bible covers the amount of people we lead through the “narrow” gate? Or in light of God’s sovereignty, do we really do anything?
Then…it strikes me…how do we preach the gospel to those who need water, food, and a warm bed? Is the gospel good news to someone who’s about to die? Pray this prayer with me so you can be my brother so I can take care of you. Does it really work this way? Isn’t God’s love Agape, unconditional, meaning I will be loving toward you know matter what, even if that means you’re not having said “The Prayer.” Did Jesus not feed the hungry, and heal sick, without condition?
The verses leading up to 13-14 talk about how to treat your brother in regard to judging him, being so careful how we judge each other as Christians. In verse 6, it even suggests that the life we receive as Christians (in regard to morality and right-living) is to be considered sacred and treated like a pearl. Something not thrown to pigs or dogs or people who have no appreciation for that way of life. The verse preceding verses 13-14 is also talking about God’s provision and how He loves to give to His children like we love to give to ours. However, verse 12 brings the previous 11 verses home with the golden rule. A truth so paramount in our society today, that it may not be even seen as scripture anymore…
”So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
This sums up the law and the prophets??? Wow…this certainly says something in regard to my previous question. Especially if Jesus has fulfilled the law of the prophets.
What happens after Jesus tells about the narrow road? He talks about false prophets. He talks about how a good tree bears good fruit. Another way of saying, “We’ll know they are Christian, by their love.” as the old hymn says. Then Jesus makes it clear that only a person who “…does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(verse 21) may enter the Kingdom. Jesus ends the parable with the famous houses built on sand cannot stand speech. A parable not about how much “knowledge” someone has…but, someone who “hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.“
What do I see going on before and after Verse 13-14? I see a general sense of how a person is to conduct themselves as a member of the Kingdom. No judging, asking God, doing to others as they would do to them self, watching out for false teachers, bearing good fruit, doing the will of the father, and putting His words into practice. There is a general sense of what is to be done as a Christian and how to live this life. What does this mean for Verse 13-14? We’ll find out in my next blog entry.
Filed under: Christ Likeness, Grace, Jesus, Judaism, Law, Mitzvot, Sin, Torah
Question 2 – Continuing with the NT Questions. I will not post the questions as they are not my work to publish, but…I hope you enjoy reading my answers.
In Matthew 5, we have a perplexing statement by Jesus, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” This statement, might not have been perplexing to the average Jew in Jesus’ time, as every good Jew was trying to fulfill the law. However, with any knowledge of the Old Testament law, it becomes clear for our 21st century audience that carrying out a good deal of the commands in the law is out of the ordinary and near impossible.
Has the law been abolished by our doing or not doing?
Are we failing to fully live out the law thus sinning everytime we do not do what the law says?
What is the law?
Let’s be clear, the Greek word “Nomos” — law, is referring to the Pentateuch, meaning the entirety of the Old Testament. Yet, the law has traditionally been referred to as the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament where the bulk of the law is given by God through Moses to the Hebrews. These laws made it clear how a person is to live and be “right” in the sight of God. There are 613 laws in the Torah. These laws, called the Mitzvot, comprised the 10 commandments and others from circumcision to not eating kernels of grapes. A large portion of these laws explain in detail how and what is to be done with sacrificial animals. Some laws are meant as a means of cleanliness and cultivation and show how people are to live a practical better life. Some laws were cultural, having much to do with the Hebrews and their life in the promise land.
Today, most of the laws are all but forgotten. Pulled out mostly by those wishing to keep others from getting tattoos or earrings. Today, the law is never followed in its entirety even by the most conservative Jew as the practice of animal sacrifice is no longer in practice.
So what does Jesus mean by not coming to abolish the law? Why then do so many Christians ignore these laws?
When Jesus says he has come to fufill the law he means just that, to complete them, to “give them their full meaning” as one translation says. Because a large portion of these laws deals with sacrificial animals then it would makes sense, as Jesus is the substitutionary sacrificial animal, there is no need for these laws. His fufillment is both finished and yet continuing to be fulfilled as atonement covers those sins we have yet to even commit. He lived the life of a perfect Jew. Practicing the Mitzvot in every area of His life. So, as Christians as we seek to live as Christ would. We are taking up the task of fulfilling the Mitzvot in our own lives. Also, the law serves as a reminder of our need for God. We can’t live out the law perfectly as Christ did. However we can trust that the Holy Spirit can help us live as Christ lived. The law serves as a constant reminder of what Christ did and what Christ continues to do.
