Tag: bible

“‘…Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?  How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?’ And he said unto them, ‘The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.’”  Mark 2:25-28

“…Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them, which were with him, but only for the priests?  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?  But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE, YE WOULD NOT HAVE CONDEMNED THE GUILTLESS.  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”  Matthew 12:3-8

“‘…Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread , and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?’ And he said unto them, ‘That the son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.’”  Luke 6:3-5

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus tells the story of when David was hungry and he and his followers entered a temple and ate the offering that had been reserved for the priests.  This act by David would have been considered unlawful. Jesus tells this story in response to criticism that Jesus and his disciples were receiving for walking through the fields and eating corn from the stalk on the sabbath.  This act by Jesus was accused of being unlawful as well.  Jesus responds by saying that the sabbath law itself was made for man and not the other way around.  He noted that he himself was the Lord of the sabbath day.

In this way, I think that Jesus was pointing out how misguided people were in focusing on rules and procedures instead of the needs of their neighbors.  By always trying to catch someone in the act of a violation, without examining the spirit behind the laws, they were condemning the guiltless.  The laws were not meant as a stick by which to beat each other up, but as a guide to help people get and stay on the right path.  The sabbath was given as a gift to man, not as a trap in which to catch and then punish people.

We all have to look at our need to criticize someone else’s adherence to the laws of God.  Our focus should be on whether we are being loving to God and loving to our neighbors.  God serves as his own judge.

Your Reflection

• Do you have the desire to be judgmental toward your neighbors?
• Are you helping your neighbors or hurting them with your judgments?
• How can you grow in compassion for those that you disagree with?

“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body be cast into hell.  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”  Matthew 5:29-30

My Summary & Reflection

In this metaphor, Jesus tells us that the good of our soul is more important than any desires of the flesh.  If, as in the first example, your temptations come from something that you can see with the eye, then Jesus is saying to remove that sight from your eye.  Similarly, if your temptations come from something that you can feel in your hand, then Jesus is saying to remove that feeling from your hand.  As in all the prior examples, Jesus is speaking metaphorically.

I believe that Jesus is saying to remove yourself physically from that which tempts you.  We are all tempted into sinfulness by different things.  What tempts you, may not tempt me and vice versa.  We have to know ourselves and know what it is that may cause us to stray from the path that God has for us.  You need to know how to remove yourself from any situation where you feel temptation.

There’s this television show that documents the journey of people who have become morbidly obese from an addiction to food and want to be delivered from that addiction.  In an effort to remove themselves from temptation, they literally have part of their stomachs removed.  But even then, it is only after a commitment to change their lives that this option is given to them.  And even after this drastic physical change, they are only successful if they maintain that commitment for their lifetimes.     

So, whatever it is that tempts you, remove yourself from it.  Whether it be a friend request or message from an old flame if you are tempted into adultery, places that sell illegal narcotics if you are tempted by narcotics, bars if you are tempted by excessive alcohol consumption, stores if you are tempted to steal or excessively shop, et cetera.  If you know that when you hang out with certain people, that bad things happen, then don’t hang out with those people.  Cut those people from your life.  When you commit to the journey that God has for you, not everyone or everything that you had before will come with you.  Many people and many things from your former life will be left behind.  Don’t allow yourself to be swept up by what you can see with your eyes, feel with your hands, taste with your tongue, hear with your ears, or smell with your nose.  These things are all temporary.  It is your soul that is eternal.  Don’t allow your senses to lead you into temptation. 

 Your Reflection

• Do you know the sources of your temptation?
• How do you remove yourself from that temptation before falling prey to it?
• In what situations are you more likely to sin? What can you do to avoid those situations? 

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.”  Luke 15:8-9

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus describes a woman who had ten pieces of silver and loses one piece.  She turns on the lights, cleans the house, and looks everywhere until she finds it.  When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate because she found the piece that had been lost.

In this parable Jesus is comparing each person to a piece of silver and God to the woman.  Even though she has nine other pieces of silver, she works diligently to find the piece that she lost.  She is not content with having the majority of what she began with, but she is concerned over the piece that was not where it was supposed to be.  In this way, the parable is similar to The Good Shepherd Parable https://leaveninthemeal.com/2019/02/13/week-30-the-good-shepherd/.  In it the shepherd was concerned for all of the sheep in his flock, so when one went missing, he diligently searched until he found it.

This parable reminds me of a mother who is a responsible parent caring for each of her children.  When one is lost either physically or spiritually, she will search diligently for her missing child.  It’s not enough that the remaining children are safe and sound.  It’s the one that’s missing that takes the time and attention of the diligent parent to bring that one back home.  And when that child is found, the mother will rejoice because everyone is back where they should be.

Jesus is saying that God does not forget about any of us, even though he has so many souls under his care.  Each one of us is an important piece and if we are lost, He will search for us and seek to bring us back home.  None of us are disposable.  None of us are forgettable to God.  Each and every one of us has worth, no matter what we’ve done to turn ourselves away from Him.  When we have gone astray, we are like that missing piece.  There will always be joy and thanksgiving when we return home.  Jesus says of this woman who celebrates finding her missing piece, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”  Luke 15:10

Your Reflection

• Do you believe in the worth that Jesus says you have?
• Do you believe in the worth that Jesus says that everyone you meet has?
• If you believe in that worth, how do you treat others? How do you treat yourself?

“And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Matthew 19:24

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Mark 10:25

“For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Luke 18:25

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus says that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.  To provide context, this example was made after Jesus was approached by a man seeking to figure out what he could do to inherit eternal life, Jesus instructed the man to “…go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”  Mark 10:21   

The man who had approached Jesus went away sad because he was rich and unwilling to give up his possessions.  The difficulty for the rich man seems to be that it is with those riches, that the rich man puts his faith and his trust.  Jesus said, “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”  Mark 10:24 It is the unwillingness to leave earthly possessions in exchange for eternal life that provides the difficulty for the rich man.  As in Treasure in a Field, https://leaveninthemeal.com/2018/08/08/week-3-treasure-in-a-field/, a man must be willing to sell all that he has in order to receive this ultimate treasure.  That willingness to give them up, is the test for those who hold possessions dear.  It is as if the riches and possessions become a weight anchoring someone to the earth, instead of allowing him to open himself up to that which is greater.  But as hard as it is, Jesus tells us that it is not impossible.  Because as he says, “…With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”  Mark 10:27

Your Reflection

• What is it that holds you back from accepting the gift of eternal life?
• What are you willing to let go of in order to receive God’s blessings?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”  John 10:1-5

My Summary & Reflection

Jesus notes that the person who enters the place where the sheep are kept, not by the door but by some other way, is a thief.  But the person who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To the shepherd, the porter opens the door.  The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice.  He calls the sheep each by its own name, and leads them out.  He walks ahead of the sheep and they follow him because they know his voice.  The sheep will not follow a stranger, because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.

In this parable, Jesus first compares himself to the door of the sheep.  In his explanation he says, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”  John 10:9  This idea echoes that described in the parable of The Strait Gate https://leaveninthemeal.com/2019/01/23/week-27-the-strait-gate/ in that the gate or the door is the path that must be followed to obtain eternal life.  In another passage, Jesus says, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6

This however is not the only comparison made in this parable. Jesus also notes that he, in this parable, is also the shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11 As the shepherd, Jesus identifies each individual by name.  As in the parable of the Good Shepherd, https://leaveninthemeal.com/2019/02/13/week-30-the-good-shepherd/, Jesus again wants us to know that each person is important individually.  He, as the shepherd, leads us out and we recognize his voice as our leader.

The duality as both the door and as the shepherd is explained by Jesus in that he and the Father are in unison.  He can be both the way and the shepherd at the same time.  He says, “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30.

Your Reflection

• Have you found your way to the doorway to eternal life?
• Do you hear Jesus’ voice guiding your path?
• What prevents you from following the path that Jesus is laying out for you?

“…The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do:  I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

My Summary & Reflection

In this parable, Jesus describes a rich man who has a plentiful harvest.  He has more than he can possibly store in his barns.  Because of this, he chooses to pull down his barns and build even greater barns to hold all of his harvest.  He then thought that he would rest and enjoy the goods he had built up for many years.  But God said to him that he was to die that very night and would not have the chance to rest and live off the treasure that he had built.

To provide some context for this parable, Jesus provided this parable after making the following statement, “…Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15  In a related passage, Jesus tells us, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

The lesson of this parable and Jesus’ related words appear to be that a person’s real worth is not a function of his or her financial worth and the things he or she has, but what is in that person’s heart.  In the parable, the rich man’s blessings exceeded even his ambitions and the size of his barn.  In other words, his cup runneth over.  The question is what to do when that happens.  When your cup runs over, do you, as the man in this parable, go and get a bigger cup or do you share your excesses to improve the lives of your neighbors?

In our society, where many are judged by their possessions, it can become easy to believe that possessions and outward displays of wealth are important, that they mean something.  What Jesus seems to be saying is that these things are not important to God.  And we should keep our efforts focused on that which is important to God if we hope for the riches beyond this world, the riches for our soul that are eternal.  As in the parable, the possessions that are stored up on earth, will not be joining the rich man as his life here on earth has ended.  They all will be left behind.  In current times, we may fool ourselves into thinking that we are just providing inspiration to others by displaying our wealth and status.  But what we may be in fact doing is building up our own egos and, in the process, inspiring others to covetousness.  What this parable and Jesus’ other teachings seem to guide us towards, as the rich man with the excess yields in his harvest, is being grateful for the fruits of our labor and finding ways to share both our bounty and our knowledge with others so that they too can experience a bountiful harvest.

Your Reflection

• Do you believe that gathering as many riches as you are able should be your goal?
• Is your focus on storing up for yourself treasures on earth or in heaven?
• What is your definition of success? Is that definition based on what you have stored up for yourself on earth?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

My Summary & Reflection

In this metaphor, Jesus says to enter at the narrow passage, because the passage to destruction is wide.  He notes that there are few that find the narrow passage that leads to life.  A strait is a narrow passage.  Jesus is comparing the path to eternal life to the strait gate. 

 To provide context, this metaphor was given after Jesus said, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”Matthew 7:7:12 Jesus is telling us the way to the path.  If we treat others as we would like to be treated, we are following the strait path toward eternal life.  If we treat others unkindly, disrespectfully, and unmercifully, then we are not on the path toward eternal life; we are instead on the path to destruction.

Jesus notes that not many people find their way to the strait path.  It may be because it is a difficult path.  Although clear and direct, the requirement to treat others as we, ourselves, would be treated, can be a difficult one if we are led by our egos and not by the spirit of love.  It is far easier to mistreat others as they have mistreated us or to take advantage of others before they can take advantage of us.  That is a much easier, much wider path.  But as Jesus notes in this metaphor, it is a path to destruction, and not to life.

 In other teachings, Jesus tells us that the path to life, although narrow, can be found by all of us even if we have been astray for a long time.  Similarly, even if you start out on the path, it is easy to lose your way when you lose focus.  We just have to find our way back, and we will be among the few that enter the strait gate that leads to life.   

Your Reflection

• Are you on the path to life?  If not, how do you find your way back?
• What keeps you from treating others as you would like to be treated?
• How would you like to be treated?