2 KINGS 5:1-17c

THE BACKGROUND

This is a story about a miracle that the prophet Elisha performed in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (aka Samaria).  It is also a story about pride and humility.

Note: The selection to be read in church omits verses 4-6.  I have included the whole story here, to provide the whole picture.

THE DETAIL

• Naaman was the head of the military in the army of the Aramites.  Aram was situated just north of Samaria.  It’s capital was Damascus.  Naaman was not only a great warrior, but he was a “great man”.  The Hebrew word translated as “great” in this translation could also be translated as “influential”.  The good news was that this man, who was a great warrior and influential, was highly respected by the king of Aram.  The bad news is that he had leprosy.  Leprosy was a contagious, incurable disease.  A cure for this disease was only discovered in the mid-1940’s. People suffering from it experienced crippling of the hands and feet, paralysis, and blindness.  Because it was so contagious, there were laws which excluded its victims from normal society.  (v. 1) 
• The Aramites went to war, off and on, against the Northern Kingdom.  On one of these battles, a Samaritan girl had been taken captive, and became the handmaiden (a slave) to Naaman’s wife.  This slave girl knew of Elisha, and believed that he could heal Naaman’s leprosy.  She mentioned him to Naaman’s wife., who must have then mentioned it to Naaman.  (vv. 2-3)
• Naaman is desperate to be cured of this shameful disease, so he goes to the king, and tells him. The king offers to write a letter to the king of Samaria.  In order to hide his shame, Naaman heads south with a mammoth amount of money, as well as ten fancy suits of clothes.  (vv. 4-5)
• Naaman first went to the king of Israel with the letter.  The king freaked out, tearing his garment.  (This is a universal sign of extreme despair.  It is done when grieving, when someone blasphemed against God, etc.)  In the king’s case, it was his way of saying “How can you expect me to cure someone of leprosy?” He was also afraid that Naaman’s king was trying to start a fight.  (vv. 6-7)
• Elisha, on the other hand, tells the king—“Why did you tear your clothes?  Send him to me, so I can show him the power of our God.” (v. 8)
• So, Naaman proceeded to Elisha’s house, dressed in his finest, riding in a war chariot pulled by war horses, and bringing a treasure chest full of money.  All of this was intended to impress Elisha into doing something for this foreigner.  But Elisha was not impressed.  He doesn’t even come out to see Naaman.  Instead, he sent a servant out to tell him what to do.  What an insult!  (vv. 9-10)
• Naaman is visibly upset.  He has not only been upstaged by Elisha, but he was told to simply wash in the river! He wants nothing to do with it, and leaves in a rage.  (vv. 11-12)
• His servants convince him to do as he was instructed.  In humility, he goes to the river and washes seven times, as instructed. It works!  (vv. 13-14)
• He returns to Elisha, praising the God of Israel.  And he gave him the present of money.  (v. 15)

THE TAKEAWAY

This story prepares us for understanding the gospel lesson for the day.  Also, verses 9-10 show me that Naaman was a very proud man.  He had preconceived notions about what would happen, based on his pride.  Naaman had to first learn to be humble before he could approach the man of God for healing. The same holds true for us.  It is impossible to approach God without humility.

2 TIMOTHY 2:8-15

THE BACKGROUND

Paul continues to give Timothy (and us) some very useful device, in spite of the fact that Paul is chained and in a Roman prison.

THE DETAIL

• In verses 8 & 9, Paul instructs Timothy to remember something.  And in eight short words, Paul explains why he is not ashamed to be in chains in a Roman prison.  The words below in bold type are the words.  Each has my explanation.  Paul says that Jesus is:
  1. Christ—the Anointed One.  He is the Messiah, in spite of his shameful death.
  2. Raised from the dead—His resurrection is the proof positive we need to put our trust in him.
  3. Descendant of David—He is our king.  The promised rule of the Davidic line has been restored.
• Paul says it is for this reason that he suffers—to bring the Good News of salvation in Christ Jesus to all.  (v. 10)
• What follows is either a summary of his teachings or an old Christian hymn.  Either way, it encourages us to be faithful, even in the face of suffering or embarrassment.  (vv. 11-13)
• We are reminded that when we Christians argue amongst ourselves, not only do we accomplish nothing, but we spoil the name of Jesus to those [non-believers?] who might be listening.  We come off as hypocrites, since we are not showing love for one another.  (v. 14)
• Paul closes with words of encouragement.  Don’t be ashamed, but present yourself with confidence, as you are approved by God himself. Good advice for us as well!  (v. 15)

THE TAKEAWAY

Paul’s eight words say it all.  The problem we Christians have is that we can’t keep it that simple.  We need to wrangle with one another, discussing the finer points of prayer, number of sacraments, what a proper baptism is and isn’t, when to baptize, etc.  We fail to realize how foolish we look to non-believers.  In one breath we say “love your neighbor”, and in the next we argue with our brothers and sisters over details.  Yet, we all agree on those eight words.  Let’s get along!
 

LUKE 17:11-19

THE BACKGROUND

Several lessons can be gleaned from today’s Gospel.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus is headed to Jerusalem.  This will be a one-way trip.  At the time of this story, he was in the border area between Galilee and Samaria. While the Jews tolerate Gentiles, they hate Samaritans.  Oddly, Samaritans worship the God Yahweh, but have somewhat different traditions than Judean Jews.  I guess their “wrangling” over details went ballistic at some point in time.  (v. 11)
• Ten lepers approach him, but they kept their distance.  This was required by Mosaic Law.  After all, lepers were highly contagious.  (v. 12)
• They call Jesus “Master”, which was normally a title for Jesus that only his disciples used. I take it as an expression of humble admiration and faith.  They ask for mercy.  (v. 13)
• Jesus healed them on the spot, and told them to show themselves to the priest.  This was according to the instruction from the Torah—if you were cleansed from leprosy, a priest needed to examine you.  If he deemed you clean, you could re-enter society.  If not, you were still an outcast, and could not touch or come in contact with anyone.  (v. 14)
• One of the ten was so elated at being cured, that he returned to Jesus, shouting praises to God.  “And he was a Samaritan.”  (vv. 15-16)
• Jesus is quick to point out that this “foreigner” was the only one of the ten to return and praise him.  He sent him on his way.  (vv. 17-19)

THE TAKEAWAY

This story holds several lessons for us.  First, for many of the onlookers, they would be reminded of Elisha’s miracle healing. It might tell them that Jesus is no ordinary itinerant preacher.  Second, Jesus’ promise of saving grace is not reserved for “God’s Chosen People”, but is for everyone, including this despised Samaritan.  Third, we should remain humble and thankful when receiving God’s healing grace, acting like the one in ten.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

When it comes to living our lives under God’s grace, are we like the Samaritan leper or like Naaman? Are we puffed up and proud, or humble and thankful for God’s loving grace?

HABAKKUK 1:1-4, 2:1-4

THE BACKGROUND

We know very little about the prophet Habakkuk, other than that he was a prophet to Judah during the first stages of Judah’s downfall to Babylon.  The first two chapters of the book are a dialogue with God.  The third is a psalm-like prayer.

THE DETAIL

• The first chapter, which is exemplified in verses 1-4, seems to challenge God with the question “Why, God, are you allowing these brutal Babylonian pagans to conquer your chosen people.  As bad as we are, we are certainly more righteous than they are.”  In verse 4, the “wicked” are the Babylonians, and the “righteous” are the Judeans.  Habakkuk simply cannot figure God out.   Habakkuk asks why would God allow this to happen?
• The second paragraph, from the second chapter, has Habakkuk shrugging, and taking his place on the ramparts.  (More on ramparts in the Takeaway.)  In faith, he will await God’s answer.  And God does just that.  God tells Habakkuk to write down the holy vision, and make it understandable even to a runner.  (vv. 1-2)
• The vision calls for the people to be patient.  God will make things right, but it will take time.  Just wait for it.  (v. 3)
• In the final verse, “the proud” are the Babylonians—their spirit is not right in them. “The righteous” are the Judeans.  God’s chosen people are told to live lives of patient faithfulness.  (v. 4)

THE TAKEAWAY

A years ago, I had the privilege of walking on the ramparts of an old castle in France.  From the ramparts, the outer walls of the castle, I had a clear view of the surrounding countryside.  It is a beautiful place to go, especially when you are in prayer. Or in Habakkuk’s case waiting for an answer to prayer.

We all know and believe that God answers prayer.  But we often want immediate answers.  God answers in his own time, and calls on us to be patient and faithful. 

2 TIMOTHY 1:1-14

THE BACKGROUND

Paul wrote this while a prisoner in Rome.  His hopes of being released are fading fast.  In spite of this, Paul has words of strength and encouragement for Timothy.  Timothy’s family is mentioned in verse five.  Timothy’s father was a Jew who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.   His mother and grandmother were Gentiles who had accepted Jesus as their savior.

THE DETAIL

• In spite of Paul’s impending death, he is upbeat and positive.  He writes of the “promise of life”.  He is referring, of course, not to life on earth, but eternal life. (vv. 1-2)
• Paul is thankful for Timothy and his family, who have been pillars of the church.  Paul would love to see him again, but probably knows that this will not happen.  Perhaps this is the reason for the tears.  (vv. 3-5)
• He reminds Timothy (and us) that through the Holy Spirit, we have the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.  That’s quite a combination!  We’ll see why we need all three in the next verses.  (vv. 6-7)
• Timothy is encouraged to not be ashamed to stand up for Jesus or Paul.  We sing a song about standing up for Jesus.  It’s a fun and happy song.  But back in Timothy and Paul’s day, Jesus was considered by many to be nothing more than a criminal who was executed by the Roman authorities. And now Paul is in jail and will surely die there.  Both facts offer a lot of opportunity for embarrassment and shame.  But Paul reminds Timothy of God’s grace—the loving grace that the Father had by sacrificing His only son for us.  This is something to be proud of.  (vv. 8-10)
• Paul goes on to say that this is why he preached the gospel, and is why he is suffering for it. He encourages Timothy to have the love, power, and self-discipline (remember verse 7?) to do the same.  I love the beginning of verse 14—“Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit…”  (vv. 11-14) 

THE TAKEAWAY

We are blessed to live in a land where all are free to worship and practice our faith as we chose. We need to be committed to preserving this right for all people of faith, not just to those who believe as we do. Nobody should have to suffer for their faith like Paul and so many Christians of his day did. 

FOOD FOR THOUHT

What is the “good treasure” that is mentioned in verse 14?  (Hint:  see verses 8-10) 

How do we guard it?  (See below.)
 

LUKE 17:5-10

THE BACKGROUND

In the four verses just ahead of today’s reading, Jesus warns his followers of being a stumbling block to other’s faith, and of being willing to forgive others, even if they do it repeatedly.

THE DETAIL

• In response to all the above, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. Obviously, they recognized the need for more faith for the challenges that lay ahead.  (v. 5)
• Next, Jesus tells them a parable.  He uses the example of a slave/servant and his master.  I’ll try to explain this in the Takeaway.

THE TAKEAWAY

There was a TV series that my wife and I loved, called Downton Abbey.  It was about an English aristocratic family, their social circle, and the lives of the servants.  We also watched a program called “The Making of Downton Abbey”.  It was explained that it was not proper for the family to thank the servants each time they did a task to serve them.  If the family did this, they’d be thanking everybody all day long.  After all, it was the servants’ job to do what they did.  No thanks was required or expected.  We modern Americans are not accustomed to this, so Jesus’ parable might seem odd. Maybe knowing how servants and masters interact, we might better understand his parable. 

By telling this peculiar parable, I think Jesus is telling them that it is not how much faith you have, but about the quality or strength of we have.  Strength of faith comes from doing.  It comes from teaching, healing, feeding, picking up those who stumble and from forgiving.  It’s like spiritually pumping iron!  But if you think about it, this is simply our job as Christians.  We should not be looking for thanks, praise, or even for heavenly “brownie points”.  It is simply what we should be doing as lovers of God, servants of our Lord. When you get to that point, you’ve got a strong faith.

Amos 9:1a, 4-7

Although this reading is several chapters after last week’s reading, but it goes right along with it. As you may recall from last week, Amos was a prophet to the northern kingdom called Israel.  It was also known by other names, such as Jacob, Samaria, etc. The rich were getting richer, and the poorer getting poorer.  Those who were successful were insensitive to the needs o the less fortunate around them.  Amos is called in to alert them to their failure to show God’s love to the disadvantaged.  This week’s reading is aimed squarely at the insensitive rich.  This is God’s judgement on them. 

Archaeologists have indeed found beds of ivory in large homes in Samaria.  The surrounding settlements have much smaller homes—these were the homes of the poor.  Through Amos, God tells these people that their luxurious life will be short-lived. Amos was calling for repentance. But his prophecies fell on deaf ears.  Not long after, Babylonian armies came to destroy Israel, kill some, and cart off others.

Things are no different today.  For example, over the past 12 years, executive salaries have increased by a factor of 10, 20, or more.  Yet, the minimum wage has remained unchanged.  Beds are no longer made of ivory, but homes in resort towns are getting larger and more numerous.  While being wealthy is not itself sinful, it often leads people away from God’s desire to share our blessings with those less fortunate.

1 Timothy 6:6-19

THE BACKGROUND

In this letter to his beloved friend Timothy, Paul gives him some wise advice that would be good for all of us to heed. 

THE DETAIL

• We are encouraged to ascribe to that winning combination of godliness and contentment. We are told to be satisfied with what we have.  (vv. 6-8) 
• We are cautioned of the risk that comes from seeking wealth.  Calling wealth “the root of all evil” is a little strong, but it is not wrong. Paul lists for us some of the temptations that come from achieving financial success.  I’m sure that you can think of a few other traps that wealthy Christians might fall into.  Instead, Paul urges us to shun the pursuit of riches, and focus on godliness, faith, love, etc. (vv. 9-12)
• Paul then recalls the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  (vv. 13-16)
• Paul closes by telling us that if we are indeed rich, we should focus on being humble.  We should set our hopes on the riches of life in Christ, rather than the uncertainty of riches.  (vv. 17-19)

THE TAKEAWAY

Last week, we touched on the humanized idol of Mammon—the god of riches.  You may recall that Jesus said that it is more difficult for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than to go to heaven.  He did not say it was impossible; it was simply going to be darned difficult.  Oftentimes, when people acquire wealth, their values change.  The “god” of Mammon takes precedence over living in Christ Jesus. It takes a strong person to resist this temptation.  Our call is to not lose our focus, which is living as humble servants to the Lord, sharing our abundance with others less fortunate.
 

Luke 16:19-31

THE BACKGROUND

The sixteenth chapter of Luke consists of two parables about the rich.  We studied the first one last week.  This week, we study the second.  In between, verse 14 states that when the Pharisees heard the first parable, they made fun of Jesus, because “they were lovers of money”.  So, Jesus responds with the parable that we will study today.

THE DETAIL

• This is the story of a rich man (who remains nameless) and a poor man named Lazarus.  The rich man lives a lavish life, and feasts daily. People of this stature were expected to share their scraps and excess with the poor.  Many dwellings even had benches outs them for the poor to wait on. But Lazarus got nothing from this man. (vv. 19-21)
• In the story, both die.  Lazarus goes “to be with father Abraham”, a Jewish concept of heaven popular at the time. The rich man goes to Hades (hell). (vv. 22-23)
• The rich man’s pleas for mercy go unheeded.  Finally, he begs father Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers.  And here’s the irony in the story:  Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers have all they need to know, to behave in a God-pleasing way.  They won’t change their ways “even if someone raises from the dead.”  Jesus is obviously talking about the stubbornness of the Pharisees. He is probably aware that they will not change their attitudes, even after he is raised from the dead in the weeks ahead.  (vv. 24-31)

THE TAKEAWAY

Now, we all know that our salvation does not come from doing charitable works, but by the blood of our Lord Jesus on the cross.  Since our faith is pinned to the cross, our actions should follow accordingly.  Just before this parable, in verse 15, Jesus says “…but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.”  We have always admired the wealthy members of our society, but God could care less.  He is concerned about what is in our hearts. He expects everyone to act with love and compassion to everyone, regardless of their social or financial status.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Could God have higher expectations for those with greater blessings?

AMOS 8:4-7

THE BACKGROUND

Under the long and peaceful reign of king Jeroboam II, the northern kingdom of Israel prospered. Peace and prosperity seemed to be everywhere.  Those at the top were careful to observe good worship practices, but in daily living they were cheating the poor to line their pockets.  Sometime in the 750’s B.C., Amos is called by God to speak His mind to those in control, calling for justice. 

THE DETAIL

• These abusers of the needy and poor are called to listen to God’s decree.  (v. 4)
• Some of details of their actions are listed.  First, they are anxiously waiting for religious festivals and the Sabbath to be over, so they can resume their dishonest trading.  (v. 5a)
• Second, they cheat the consumers by using bushel baskets of grain (ephahs) small, inflating the price (shekel) and using false balances to weigh goods.  The poor are being sold less of the grain they need to eat, just so the merchants can line their pockets.  (V. 5b)
• Once the poor are bankrupt, they will be sold into slavery for a pittance. (v. 6)
• The Lord promises that He will never forget their actions.  (v. 7)

THE TAKEAWAY

Throughout the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New, 
God’s will is crystal clear.  He yearns for justice and for His people to have compassion on the underprivileged.  Are things any better today?
 

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-7

THE BACKGROUND

Timothy was one of Paul’s closest disciples.  Paul entrusted him to the care of several of the churches they had established in Asia Minor.  This letter, as stated in 1:18, is a list of instructions for Timothy to use as a guide as a church leader.

THE DETAIL

• The instructions start out by urging Timothy and his churches to pray for everyone, including kings and those in high positions.  
  We’ll discuss this in the Takeaway.  (vv. 1-2)
• This is a good thing, states the writer.  God wants everyone to be saved, including the political leaders.  (vv. 3-4)
• Now, it is made clear that there is only one God and one Mediator; they are God the Father and God the Son.  (v. 5)
• We are reminded that Jesus gave his live as a ransom for everyone.  (v. 6)
• The Paul concludes that he was appointed by God to proclaim this gospel, especially to the Gentiles.  (v. 7)

THE TAKEAWAY

During the time of the New Testament, the Roman emperor was their savior and their lord.  Granted, the Roman Peace saved them from petty political uprisings.  In later years, the Caesars were deified (glorified as gods).  There was only one lord, and that was Caesar.  Paul asks us to pray for Caesar and all our leaders.  In his day, there was no religious freedom, unless it was allowed by Caesar.  By praying for those in power, the hope was that they could live “a quiet and peaceable life”.  If Caesar became a Christian, so much the better.  (This would finally happen in 325).  Paul makes it clear that even Caesar is lower that God and Jesus.  1 Timothy 6:15 spells this out, stating that “…Jesus Christ … is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”
 

LUKE 16:1-13

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus is on the road, teaching in parables.  Keep in mind that each parable is a lesson to its listeners.  Each parable has the purpose of teaching one lesson.  The more you get into the details of the story, the more you run the risk of missing the one single point.  In this story, the parable is in verses 1-8a.  Jesus explains the meaning in 8b-13.

This parable is perhaps one of his most puzzling ones.  It helps to know something about lending money in a Jewish community during Jesus’s time.  By Jewish law, lenders were not allowed to charge interest on loans.  Consequently, when someone wanted to buy a piece of property on credit, the property would be sold at 25-50% more than its true worth. This is how they got around the law.

Also, it helps to understand one word and its alternate meanings.  The word “wealth” used in most modern translations was translated as “Mammon” in the King James.  Mammon is a personified god of money.  The use of Mammon here seems to be more appropriate.

THE DETAIL

• A rich man employs a steward to manage his money.  The steward did a poor job of it, and squandered the boss’ money.  (v. 1)
• The boss calls in the steward, demands an accounting of the money lost, and pledges to fire.  (v. 2)
• The steward, worried about his future, concocts a strange plan.  He reduces the customers’ debts, most likely reducing the loan to its true price.  This wins him a new round of friends, and a promising future.  His boss’ esteem in the community also gets a boost, because of his supposed generosity.  Oddly enough, his master is impressed by this shrewdness, even though it cost him his profit. (vv. 3-8a)
• Jesus tells us the “moral of the story”.  First, the people “of this age” are more shrewd that “children of light”.  This is the key to understanding the sayings that follow.  He is contrasting his followers’ outlook on life to those around them.  (v. 8b) 
• Skipping to verse 13, Jesus states that we cannot serve two masters; we can either be shrewd and dishonest or be faithful to God by doing business in a compassionate way. 
• In between verse 8 and 13 are a bunch of Jesus’ sayings which are quite confusing. We can easily jump to the wrong conclusion.  I’m going to gloss over them.  If you choose to try to understand them, do so knowing what Jesus says in verses 8 and 13.  

THE TAKEAWAY

Martin Luther once said “Many a person thinks he has God and everything he needs when he has money and property.  In them he trusts and of them he boasts so stubbornly and securely that he cares for no one.  Surely such a man also has a god—mammon by name, that is, money and possessions—on which he fixes his whole heart.  It is the most common idol on earth”. 

The point is that in our economic relationships with others we should practice neighbor love.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

There is no doubting it. We are enchanted by mammon.  We idolize the rich.  Here’s a question for you.  Of these wealthy people, which practice neighbor love and which worship mammon?  Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, Taylor Swift.

EXODUS 32:7-14

THE BACKGROUND

God’s chosen people have been released from slavery in Egypt, and are at the foot of Mount Sinai.  Moses has been up on the mountain, communicating with God.  He has been gone a long time.  The people have grown impatient.  They have collected gold from the people, and made an idol. 

THE DETAIL

• God breaks the news to Moses.  Interestingly, He says “your people”, when referring to the people down in the encampment.  Earlier, in Exodus 5:1, God says “Let my  people go…” What has changed?  (vv. 7-8)
• God is angry.  He calls the people “stiff-necked”.  What might that mean?  (v. 9)
• He tells Moses to stand back, because he is going to obliterate them, and start over with Moses!  (v. 10)
• Moses does not step back.  He “implores” God to reconsider.  I have just learned that this word “implore” means something a little deeper in the original Hebrew.  It means to be almost sick with humble intensity.  So then, Moses humbly urges God to reconsider.  He cleverly uses God’s own promises to change his mind. ( vv. 11-13)
• Lo and behold, God does change his mind!  (v. 14)

THE TAKEAWAY

A few weeks ago, Abraham persuaded God to rethink His plans about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Now, we have another example.  This illustrates the willingness of God to listen to our requests, and perhaps change his plans.  I think it is key to remember “our place” when making these requests, and approach God with a humble spirit.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What would it say about you, if God called you a stiff-necked person? How do we keep from having God call us one?
 

1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17

THE BACKGROUND

Timothy was one of Paul’s key people.  He was put in charge of several churches at various times.  He was with Paul on his second and third missionary trips. Paul wrote two letters of instruction to him.  In this portion of the first letter, Paul presents his own story.

THE DETAIL

• Paul begins by expressing his gratitude in Jesus for appointing him to serve the Lord.  He gives Jesus all the credit.  He deserves none of the credit, for the reasons that will follow.  (v. 12)
• He calls himself several unflattering names, including “a man of violence”.  (v. 13)
• He was saved, purely by the free and abundant grace of God. (v. 14)
• He calls himself the foremost (or worst) of sinners.  He goes on to say that this is why Jesus chose him for this mission; because he was such a bad sinner.  He used Paul as an example to show that no one is beyond forgiveness.  (vv. 15-16)
• Because of this, he concludes his witness with praise for Jesus.

THE TAKEAWAY

Paul has to be one of the most influential Christians of all time. Yet, he is humble, calling himself the worst of all sinners.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If Paul is that low, where does that put us?

LUKE 15:1-10

THE BACKGROUND

As Jesus works his way towards Jerusalem, he teaches and interacts with the people.  Some religious officials are starting to criticize Jesus.

A note about tax collectors.  These were members of the Jewish community who were employed by the Romans to collect taxes from the Jews.  They were, in effect, traitors to their own people.  To make matters worse, many tax collectors used this authority to overcharge, and skim off some for themselves.  Needless to say, they were not held in high regard in the community.

THE DETAIL

• Part of the people who came to Jesus were tax collectors and other “sinners”.  No details are given.  They must have been undesirables, judging from what comes next. (v. 1)
• The scribes and Pharisees (the righteous part of the community) notice these ruffians, and grumble.  They must have been pretty vocal, because Jesus overhears their grumbling. (v. 2)
• He tells them two parables.  The first is the parable of the lost sheep.  The second one is the parable of the lost coin.  The point of both stories is the same, and is summarized in the last verse.  (vv. 3-9)
• Jesus uses these two parables to illustrate the joy that exists in heaven over one of the “lost” souls being “found.  (v. 10)

THE TAKEAWAY

It is an east trap to fall into.  You attend church regularly.  You tithe. You serve God by serving those around you.  Then, some tacky person shows up in church, and expected to be treated like a normal person.  This is what Jesus does, and people grumble.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Are you a grumbler or a greeter?

DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20

THE BACKGROUND

The book of Deuteronomy consists mainly of one, very long address of Moses to his people.  They are about to enter the promised land without him.  Most of this address is a reading of “The Law of Moses”, including the Ten Commandments.  After today’s reading, Moses sings a song, and dies.  Today’s reading occurs at a pivotal moment in the story—it is time to decide.

THE DETAIL

• God’s people are given a choice—life or death, prosperity or ruin.  The choice is theirs.  (v. 15)
• Moses has just given them a very long list of rules; laws to obey, if they chose to be His people.  There are 26 chapters of laws, starting at chapter 4!  Moses tells them that if they chose to follow these laws and love God, they will prosper.  (v. 16)
• On the other hand, if they reject these laws and the Lord God Jahweh who gives them, you will perish.  (vv. 17-18)
• Heaven and earth are called as witnesses to their decision. Life or death.  The choice is theirs to make.   (v. 19)
• By loving the Lord, and obeying Him, He will fulfill the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  (v. 20)

THE TAKEAWAY

 We, too, have a live or death decision to make.  By putting our trust in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are assured of life eternal.  Just as important, by entering into a loving, obedient relationship with God, we receive innumerable blessings.  They aren’t always monetary.  Sometimes they are spiritual.  But they do come, don’t they?

PHILEMON 1:1-21

THE BACKGROUND

Paul’s letter to Philemon is one of those rare treasures.  Paul was in prison in Ephesus.  He would be in there for two years!  Philemon was a wealthy Christian living in Colossae.  Philemon has invited Paul to stay with him, when he is released from prison.  Philemon owned slaves, which was not uncommon.  One of these slaves, a man named Onesimus, escaped from his master. He could have been crucified for this. Onesimus found his way to Ephesus, where he helped care for Paul in prison.  In Roman prisons, one was rarely fed, was kept in darkness, and received little or no exercise.  Many prisoners, after their release, were blind, crippled, or both. 

THE DETAIL

• The letter starts out in Paul’s typical style.  First, it states who it’s from.  (vv. 1-2)
• Next comes the greeting of grace and peace to the recipient. (v. 3)
• Also typical, the recipient is mentioned to be in Paul’s prayers, but the tone is different.  There is personal warmth and love.  It may just be Paul, buttering up Philemon, but it might be more.  Perhaps there was a genuine friendship here.  (vv. 4-7)
• He zeroes in on the request, calling it more of a command, even though he could do it out of love.  (vv. 8-9)
• He names Onesimus, but he also calls him “my child” and Paul his “father”.  He says that he has become useful to both of them.  (vv. 10-11)
• Paul wants to send Onesimus back to him, but wants his OK first. He states that things have changed. He might still be a slave, but is now their brother in Christ.  (vv. 12-16)
• He’s requesting that Philemon take him back, welcoming him as he would Paul.  And Paul will pay for any damages (or theft) that Onesimus might have done.  (vv. 17-18)
• To emphasize his sincerity, Paul takes the pen from the scribe, and writes this promise in his own hand.  (v. 19)
• Paul closes by lovingly applying a little more pressure.  (vv. 20-21)

THE TAKEAWAY

Apparently, Philemon had converted to Christianity, through Paul, on a visit to Ephesus.  In desperation, the runaway slave traveled the 150 miles from Colossae to Ephesus to seek Paul out.  Paul could have sheltered the slave, maybe helping him escape to Greece.  It would also implicate him by harboring a runaway. Instead, he puts his trust in Philemon’s faith, and asks him to receive Onesimus in the spirit of reconciliation—the same spirit of grace that the Father has for our transgressions.  He sends Onesimus and a disciple named Tychius to Colassae with the letter.  Doing this would be dangerous for Onesimus, and very awkward for Philemon.  In the end,, we do not know what Philemon did. What we do know is that fifty years later, the bishop of Ephesus is a man called Onesimus.  Is this the same person?  We will never know.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Would you have heeded Paul’s request, and forgiven Onesimus?

LUKE 14:25-33

THE BACKGROUND

We are in the middle part of the Gospel of Luke, the teaching part. Jesus traveled from town to town, teaching in the synagogues and on the hillside.  He is drawing a crowd.

THE DETAIL

• We learn that “large crowds” are following Jesus.  I’m sure that some of these followers were hanging on each word, learning, and growing in faith.  I’ll bet that many were simply curious, waiting for him to perform another miracle.  He stops, turns to the crowd, and speaks.  (v. 25)
• He tells the crowd that if they want to be his disciple, they must hate their family and their life.  If they’re not prepared to do that or “carry the cross”, they can’t be his disciple.  We’ll discuss “hate” in the Takeaway.  (vv. 26-27)
• He next provides them with two parables to make his point. Both have to do with measuring the cost of an endeavor before undertaking it.  (vv. 28-32)
• In conclusion, he states that you cannot become his disciple unless you sell all your possessions.  (v. 33)

THE TAKEAWAY

This is a difficult teaching, to be sure!  This teaching is labeled “The Cost of Discipleship”.  Jesus has certainly challenged his crowd and us as well.  First, let’s talk about the word “hate”.  There are three points to be made.

1. Jesus clearly is not advocating that we hate anybody, especially our family.  Jesus’ message is about love—not only our neighbors but also our enemies.
2. You could say that he was using hyperbole—making exaggerating sentence to make his point.  If you’ve ever said “If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times to…”, then you’ve used hyperbole to make a strong statement.
3. The Old Testament uses the word “hate” to indicate “less loved”.  A prime example of this comes from the story of Jacob and his wives Rachel and Leah.  Jacob was in love with Rachel, but tricked into marrying Leah first.  The bible states that he “hated” Leah.  (Genesis 29:31)  In the verse prior, it states that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.  Also, Jacob and Leah had six children together. I don’t think he really “hated” Leah. Perhaps Jesus meant “hate” in this sense.

Whatever the case, Jesus is making a strong case for measuring the cost of being his disciple.  He wants to weed out the thrill-seekers from the faith-seekers.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If you had to choose between Jesus and your family ties, would you leave your family to follow him?

PROVERBS 25:6-7a

THE BACKGROUND

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom; wise sayings for leading the godly life.  Today’s short passage mirrors today’s Gospel lesson, which is why it appears here.

THE DETAIL

• The advice given is not to boldly stand before the king, “in the place of the great”. (v. 6)
• It is much better to be invited there than to be told to step down. (v. 7)

THE TAKEAWAY

The overall point here is for the reader to exercise humility instead of boldness.  Better to have others urge you forward than to suffer the humiliation of being put lower. 

HEBREWS 13:1-8, 15-16

THE BACKGROUND

This passage comes from the final chapter of the book.  The author has made his theological points regarding Jesus’ place in the history of the Hebrew faith.  Jesus is the culmination of the Father’s plan of salvation for us. Having made these points, he concludes with some advice on daily Christian living.

THE DETAIL

• “Letting mutual love continue” sums up this entire section. What follows are several examples. (v. 1)
• First up is showing hospitality to strangers.  The mention of entertaining angels may have been intended as a reference to Abraham’s entertaining three travelers in the wilderness who turned out to be angels.  (v. 2)
• Remembering people in prison was especially important in that time.  Prisoners were held in complete darkness, often in restraints, frequently tortured, and rarely fed.  It was important for people on the outside to remember these prisoners, and bring them food and hope.  Prison ministry today is just as important for you and I to be involved in.  When we do so, we bring hope and love to those in hopeless situations.  (v. 3)
• Being faithful in our marriage is next on the list.  (v. 4)
• We are cautioned not to be obsessed with our money, but to be content with what we have.  We can find assurance in knowing that God will provide for our needs.  (vv. 5-6)
• We are reminded to imitate the people in our lives who are our spiritual role models.  (v. 7)
• Finally, we are reminded of Jesus’ constant presence in our lives.  We should live lives of sacrifice and praise, sharing our blessings with those around us. (vv. 8, 15-16)

THE TAKEAWAY

Stand back, and take a good look at this list.  Wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place, if everyone lived their lives like this?  I think so. Let’s start a trend by following these guidelines!
 

LUKE 14:1, 7-14

THE BACKGROUND

This story appears about halfway through the section of Luke’s Gospel that is about Jesus’ teachings.  We have four more chapters to go, before Jesus enters Jerusalem.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus is on his way to the house of a leader of the Pharisees, to attend a dinner party.  That’s the good news.  (v. 1a)
• Many [Pharisees?] are watching him closely.  That’s the bad news.  (v. 1b)
• Many guests are jockeying for seating at “the good table”. Jesus sees this, and decides to tell them a parable.  (v. 7)
• The parable is a story which is apparently based on our first reading from Proverbs.  (vv. 8-10)
• Then, Jesus tells them the moral of the story.  It is better to be exalted than to be humbled. By living a life of humility, you allow others to raise you up.  If you live your life in an exalted, cocky fashion, you can only expect to be humbled. (v. 11)
• Jesus could have left it right there, but he continues. He turns to the host and makes suggestions about who to invite to the party.  He suggests inviting the dregs of society!  (vv. 12-14)

THE TAKEAWAY

There was a song in the ‘50’s that went something like this:  “We belong to a mutual admiration society”. This was the order of the day back then, as it is today.  Many hold parties inviting influential friends, in the hopes of gaining wealth or prestige.  Jesus’ suggestion to invite the crippled, blind and poor seem counterproductive to these goals.  How do you think the party’s host reacted to this advice? 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Would you ever hold a party and invite the poor, crippled, and blind in your town?