Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

²⁵  “The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’

 ²⁶  “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.”

 ²⁷  And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”  Matthew 21:23-27.

We may too often think that the value of Christ’s miracles is just the benefit that it gives to the sick and suffering.  But, we see here in this text as emphasized by Calvin’s Commentary below that Christ’s miracles prove His divine majesty and authority, that Christ is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God.

And the way for Christ was prepared by the Witness John the Baptist.  If the people truly honored John the Baptist who “pointed out Christ with the finger, and had declared him to be the only Son of God”, then they should believe in Christ’s divine majesty and authority, that Christ is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God.

But, as we see, the chief priests and elders were so wicked that they chose their own plans and plots to undermine and attack Jesus over the clear evidence that should have led them to the truth.  

Calvin in his Commentary on this Scripture states in part:

“… But when the divine majesty of Christ had been attested by so many miracles, they act maliciously and wickedly in inquiring whence he came, as if they had been ignorant of all that he had done. For what could be more unreasonable than that., after seeing the hand of God openly displayed in curing the lame and blind, they should doubt if he were a private individual who had rashly assumed this authority? Besides, more than enough of evidence had been already laid before them., that Christ was sent from heaven., so that nothing was farther from their wish than to approve of the performances of Christ, after having learned that God was the Author of them.”  …

Whence was the baptism of John? Christ interrogates them about the baptism of John, not only to show that they were unworthy of any authority, because they had despised a holy prophet of God, but also to convict them, by their own reply, of having impudently pretended ignorance of a matter with which they were well acquainted. For we must bear in mind why John was sent, what was his commission, and on what subject he most of all insisted. He had been sent as Christ’s herald. He was not deficient in his duty, and claims nothing more for himself than to prepare the way of the Lord.  (Malachi 3:1; Luke 7:27.)

In short, he (John) had pointed out Christ with the finger, and had declared him to be the only Son of God. From what source then do the scribes mean that the new authority of Christ should be proved, since it had been fully attested by the preaching of John?

We now see that Christ employed no cunning stratagem in order to escape, but fully and perfectly answered the question which had been proposed; for it was impossible to acknowledge that John was a servant of God, without acknowledging that he was Himself the Lord.” …

“But they thought within themselves.  Here we perceive the impiety of the priests. They do not inquire what is true, nor do they put the question to their own conscience;  and they are so base as to choose rather to shuffle than to acknowledge what they know to be true, that their tyranny may not be impaired. In this manner, all wicked men, though they pretend to be desirous of learning, shut the gate of truth, if they feel it to be opposed to their wicked desires. So then Christ does not allow those men to go without a reply, but sends them away ashamed and confounded, and, by bringing forward the testimony of John, sufficiently proves that he is furnished with divine power.” 

In conclusion, there is a lesson here for us.  Although we certainly do not engage in plans and plots to undermine and attack Jesus, do we have our own agenda that cause us to close our eyes to the truth and to the command of Jesus’ authority?  The chief priest and elders did see Jesus’ miracles and John the Baptist’s witness.  However ,we have much more.  We have the testimony of the full Word of God.  We have the foundation of the apostles and prophets.  We also have Augustine, Luther, and Calvin and all the other saints throughout history who gave us creeds and other sound doctrine and the examples of their lives to guide us and inspire us.  “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22.      

 ²⁰  Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?”

 ²¹  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.

 ²²  “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Why did Jesus use a fig tree to teach the importance of faith?  Why did Jesus use a mountain to teach the importance of faith?

I think Jesus used a fig tree to represent those minor mundane problems in our life.  We almost don’t think it is worthy of our prayers to pray about minor mundane problems in our life.  However, Jesus commands us and encourages us to even pray in faith about little things.  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:7-11. 

Yet, there also is the duty to be diligent and work.  “He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.”  Proverbs 27:18

I think that Jesus used the mountain to represent the major, almost overwhelming problems in our life that tower over us and covers us in a shadow of fear.

Note the progression from the fig tree to the mountain.  If we pray in faith and see our prayer requests granted as to the minor mundane problems in our life, then, such granting of our minor prayer requests builds our faith to handle the bigger problems in our life.  “… you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.”

This Scripture teaches that we must have faith, and not doubt.  ^“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,”  James 1:6-7.

It helps us to believe that God wants to bless us.  Remember the prior Scripture which reminds us that our Father in Heaven will give what is good to those who ask Him!  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” 

I will close this devotion with one of my favorite verses which teaches us that an element of faith is that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  ^“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.  

¹⁴  And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

 ¹⁵  But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant

 ¹⁶  and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?”

 ¹⁷  And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.”  Matthew 21:12-17.   

This is the difference between the Lutheran and the Calvinistic branches of the Reformation. Followers of Luther, when reforming the extravagance of the Roman Catholic Church, held to the position that whatever was not explicitly forbidden in the Bible was permissible in church. For that reason, the Lutherans kept a good deal of Roman Catholic practices in their worship. Whether consciously taken or not, this is the position of most churches today. This is not Reformed!

The Calvinists, on the other hand, held to what is called “The Regulative Principle of Worship.” That regulative principle says, “We worship God only as He has commanded us in His Word.” For that reason, the worship services of Reformed churches historically have been limited to prayer, singing, sacraments, preaching, and offerings.”  Here is the link to the article in full – Click here: PUBLIC WORSHIP AND THE REFORMED FAITH

There is another article in the “The Puritan’s Mind” blog that may be worthy of your review, particularly because it quotes the Reformed Creed Westminister Confession, Chapter 21 paragraph 1 in the Westminster Confession:

“The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might.[1]  But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.[2]” 

^“25  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.

 ²⁶  “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,

 ²⁷  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;

 ²⁸  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:25-28.

²⁶  When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt.

²⁷  “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”  Matthew 17:24-27.  

Here we are commanded to respect what is right in the sight of all men and do it if possible.  The following Scripture of Romans 12:15-18 elaborates this attitude that we should have.  Although we may have no duty to do what is requested of us, although we may be persecuted, we should respect and do what is right in the sight of all men, so long as we do not sin (which is inferred by the words “if possible”).  “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”    

^“14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

 ¹⁵  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 ¹⁶  Be of the same mind toward one another;  do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.  Do not be wise in your own estimation.

 ¹⁷  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

 ¹⁸  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”  Romans 12:15-18. 

Even though Jesus and Peter had no duty to pay this tribute tax, Jesus recognized that others thought it was right that they pay such a tribute tax.  Therefore, Jesus did not want to offend them and did pay this tribute tax. 

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8. 

But, we have a Helper to help us and guide us in doing what is right.  Just as Jesus helped and guided Peter in paying this tribute tax by the miracle of the tax money in the fish, we have the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16-17. 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26. 

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-16.

²⁷  “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”  Matthew 16:24-27.  

Two insights came to me.  The first insight is based on the context.  Notice the context.  This passage of Scripture is immediately below verses 21-23:  “…  Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. … But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Matthew 16:23.  Jesus showed how He was denying Himself and taking up His cross.  In other words, according to this first insight, Jesus was thus calling His disciples to costly discipleship only by first showing His example from which His disciples could follow His example. 

The second insight is based on the parallel account and section of Scripture which is Mark 8:34-38.  In these verses, we first see Mark 8:35 which adds the important phrase “and the gospel’s” to read:  “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”  Mark 8:35.  We then come to verse 38 which is an entirely new and different verse than what we read in our Scripture for today which was Matthew 16:24-27.  Here is that verse 38.   “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:38. 

In other words, according to this second insight, Jesus was not just calling His disciples to a life of self-deprivation and hardship to live a life like an ascetic monk who practices “strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline” ( Click here: ascetic – Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ), Jesus was calling His disciples to make service to Christ and the Gospel their number one goal in life.  

In conclusion, yes, discipleship is costly.  But, first, we should fix our eyes on Jesus as the example whom we should follow.  We also should not view discipleship just as a religious practice of strict self-denial.  But, second, we should deny ourselves and carry our cross toward the goal of discipleship which is service to Christ and the Gospel.