Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 20, 2009

Ask, seek, knock: Trust God, your Father, to give you good things

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:7-11. 
 
7  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
                                           
8  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
                                                      

9  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

10  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

11  “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.  

 

Here are some quotes (not contiguous) from Calvin on his Commentary on these verses.

“Ask, and it shall be given you.  It is an exhortation to prayer: and as in this exercise of religion, which ought to be our first concern, we are so careless and sluggish, Christ presses the same thing upon us under three forms of expression. There is no superfluity of language, when he says, Ask, seek, knock: but lest the simple doctrine should be unimpressive, he perseveres in order to rouse us from our inactivity.

He uses the metaphor seek, because we think, that those things which our wants and necessities require are far distant from us — and knock, because our carnal senses imagine, that those things which are not immediately at hand are shut up.

Though he gives all things freely to us, yet, in order to exercise our faith, he commands us to pray, that he may grant to our requests those blessings which flow from his undeserved goodness.

Is there any man among you?  It is a comparison from the less to the greater. First, our Lord contrasts the malice of men with the boundless goodness of God.  Self-love (φιλαυτία) renders us malicious: for every man is too much devoted to himself, and neglects and disregards others.  But this vice yields to the stronger feelings of a father’s love, so that men forget themselves, and give to their children with overflowing liberality. Whence comes this, but because God, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15,) drops into their hearts a portion of his goodness?  But if the little drops produce such an amount of beneficence, what ought we to expect from the inexhaustible ocean? Would God, who thus opens the hearts of men, shut his own?  Let us also remember that passage of Isaiah, “Though a mother forget her children,” (Isaiah 49:15,) yet the Lord will be like himself, and will always show himself to be a Father.

Your Father will give good things.  This is expressly mentioned by Christ, that believers may not give way to foolish and improper desires in prayer. We know how great influence, in this respect, is exerted by the excesses and presumption of our flesh.

Christ therefore enjoins us to submit our desires to the will of God, that he may give us nothing more than he knows to be advantageous. We must not think that he takes no notice of us, when he does not answer our wishes: for he has a right to distinguish what we actually need. All our affections being blind, the rule of prayer must be sought from the word of God: for we are not competent judges of so weighty a matter. He who desires to approach God with the conviction that he will be heard, must learn to restrain his heart from asking any thing that is not agreeable to his will.  “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  (James 4:3)

Here is the link to the full commentary on these verses –

 
 
Although Commentaries can be helpful, we must be careful to not let the Commentary overwhelm the simple and clear commands in Scripture.  Here, I think there is a particular danger that we can be so careful about what we ask (so that we do not “give way to foolish and improper desires in prayer”) that we omit to “ask, seek, knock” as we are commanded here.  
 
Let us consider the analogy given in this Scripture.  Children do often ask for foolish and improper things.  And yet, the father is not angered nor upset;  the father will only give what is good to his children. 
 
Although Scripture does warn us later (“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  (James 4:3) ), here, the Scripture does not so warn us.  I think the reason for this “omission” here is that it is so important that we “Ask, seek, knock:  Trust God, your Father, to give you good things” that we need to consider it first alone and digest it first alone, before we go on to other thoughts.  The specific context of James 4:3 is that James was addressing the source of quarrels and conflicts.  Here, Jesus was speaking more generally. 
 
Therefore, let us generally, be simple and direct, like children, in asking for good things.  Let us ask in simple “child-like faith”, rather than worrying too much about whether or not our requests are proper.  Let us remember that the very essence of faith includes the element that God is a rewarder.  “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.
 
When we find ourselves in the specific context of quarrels and conflicts, we can then be more careful as to what we ask. 
 
In any event, we also need to trust God that He will reveal any imperfect attitude and correct it, including improper prayer requests.  “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  Philippians 3:14-16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 19, 2009

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine”

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:6:  “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” 
 
 
It is interesting that Calvin devotes a whole Commentary on this one verse.  Here is a quote of the entire Commentary except the first two sentences.
 
“Christ reminds the Apostles, and, through them, all the teachers of the Gospel, to reserve the treasure of heavenly wisdom for the children of God alone, and not to expose it to unworthy and profane despisers of his word.

But here a question arises: for he afterwards commanded to preach the Gospel to every creature, and Paul says, that the preaching of it is a deadly savor to wicked men, and nothing is more certain than that it is every day held out to unbelievers, by the command of God, for a testimony, that they may be rendered the more inexcusable. I reply: As the ministers of the Gospel, and those who are called to the office of teaching, cannot distinguish between the children of God and swine, it is their duty to present the doctrine of salvation indiscriminately to all. Though many may appear to them, at first, to be hardened and unyielding, yet charity forbids that such persons should be immediately pronounced to be desperate. It ought to be understood, that dogs and swine are names given not to every kind of debauched men, or to those who are destitute of the fear of God and of true godliness, but to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God, so that their disease appears to be incurable. In another passage, Christ places the dogs in contrast with the elect people of God and the household of faith, It is not proper to take the children’s bread, and give it to dogs, (Matthew 15:27.) But by dogs and swine he means here those who are so thoroughly imbued with a wicked contempt of God, that they refuse to accept any remedy.

Hence it is evident, how grievously the words of Christ are tortured by those who think that he limits the doctrine of the Gospel to those only who are teachable and well-prepared. For what will be the consequence, if nobody is invited by pious teachers, until by his obedience he has anticipated the grace of God? On the contrary, we are all by nature unholy, and prone to rebellion. The remedy of salvation must be refused to none, till they have rejected it so basely when offered to them, as to make it evident that they are reprobate and self-condemned, (αὐτοκατάκριτοι,) as Paul says of heretics, (Titus 3:11.)

There are two reasons, why Christ forbade that the Gospel should be offered to lost despisers. It is an open profanation of the mysteries of God to expose them to the taunts of wicked men. Another reason is, that Christ intended to comfort his disciples, that they might not cease to bestow their labors on the elect of God in teaching the Gospel, though they saw it wantonly rejected by wicked and ungodly men. His meaning is lest this inestimable treasure should be held in little estimation, swine and dogs must not be permitted to approach it. There are two designations which Christ bestows on the doctrine of salvation: he calls it holy, and compares it to pearls. Hence we learn how highly we ought to esteem this doctrine.

Lest these trample them under their feet Christ appears to distinguish between the swine and the dogs: attributing brutal stupidity to the swine, and rage to the dogs And certainly, experience shows, that there are two such classes of despisers of God. Whatever is taught in Scripture, for instance, about the corrupt nature of man, free justification, and eternal election, is turned by many into an encouragement to sloth and to carnal indulgence. Such persons are fitly and justly pronounced to be swine Others, again, tear the pure doctrine, and its ministers, with sacrilegious reproaches, as if they threw away all desire to do well, all fear of God, and all care for their salvation. Although he employs both names to describe the incurable opponents of the Word of God, yet, by a twofold comparison, he points out briefly in what respect the one differs from the other.”

Although I quoted all but the first two sentences, here is the link to the full Commentary on Matthew 7:6 by Calvin, primarily if you want to read it in its found format –
 
 
 
Notice how Calvin emphasizes the following elements of the Gospel:  “the corrupt nature of man, free justification, and eternal election”.   
  
Notice how Calvin presents our “duty to present the doctrine of salvation indiscriminately to all”.   (“how grievously the words of Christ are tortured by those who think that he limits the doctrine of the Gospel to those only who are teachable and well-prepared.”)  This refutes so-called “Hyper-Calvinism”. 
  
But, after having done so, we notice “they have rejected it so basely when offered to them, as to make it evident that they are reprobate and self-condemned, (αὐτοκατάκριτοι,) as Paul says of heretics”, then we should no longer offer it to them nor any longer subject the Gospel to “taunts” and “open profanation”.   

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 18, 2009

“your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things”

Today’s devotion was Matthew 6:25-34.
 
25  “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
                                                   
26  “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
                                                           

27  “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

28  “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

29  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

30  “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

31  “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

32  “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34  “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:25-34. 

 

Calvin has so much to say that he divides this Scripture passage into two sections in which he has comments about each section of Scripture.  I will only include two quotes, but I will also give you the link to read more if you want.

“Believers ought to rely on God’s fatherly care, to expect that he will bestow upon them whatever they feel to be necessary, and not to torment themselves by unnecessary anxiety.   … Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of those things: that is, “All those persons who are so anxious about food, give no more honor, than unbelievers do, to the fatherly goodness and secret providence of God.”

Here is the link to the first section of Calvin’s comments on this Scripture (and you need only to click on “Next” at the end of the first section to get to the “next” section – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

 

We seem to always know that God is Almighty and can do anything.  We seem to always know that we do have certain needs.  But, we seem to need a reminder that God is our “Heavenly Father” Who knows that we need all things and Who wants to provide all that we need and Who does provide all that we need.

“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. 

Moreover, if God will do “the greater” for us, will not He also do “the lesser” for us?  In other words, if God will provide eternal life for us with all the joys and provisions of heaven, including lavish streets of gold, will He not provide food, clothing and other things that we now need on earth?  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32. 

 

May our faith honor “the fatherly goodness and secret providence of God”.  May our faith be used by God to draw others to Himself. 

                                                            

“so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:7

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 18, 2009

Judge Not: Not Absolute Prohibition, but Cure to Curiousity Sifting too Closely

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:1-5.
 
1  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.2  “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

3  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

4  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

5  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5. 

 

Here are some quotes from Calvin’s Commentary (not contiguous) on these verses:

“Matthew 7:1. Judge not.   These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but are intended to cure a disease, which appears to be natural to us all.  We see how all flatter themselves, and every man passes a severe censure on others. This vice is attended by some strange enjoyment: for there is hardly any person who is not tickled with the desire of inquiring into other people’s faults.

This depraved eagerness for biting, censuring, and slandering, is restrained by Christ, when he says, Judge not.  It is not necessary that believers should become blind, and perceive nothing, but only that they should refrain from an undue eagerness to judge:  for otherwise the proper bounds of rigor will be exceeded by every man who desires to pass sentence on his brethren. 

To judge, therefore, means here, to be influenced by curiosity in inquiring into the actions of others. This disease, in the first place, draws continually along with it the injustice of condemning any trivial fault, as if it had been a very heinous crime; and next breaks out into the insolent presumption of looking disdainfully at every action, and passing an unfavourable judgment on it, even when it might be viewed in a good light.

That you may not be judged.  He denounces a punishment against those severe judges, who take so much delight in sifting the faults of others. They will not be treated by others with greater kindness, but will experience, in their turn, the same severity which they had exercised towards others.

Luke 6:37, 38.  Forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you. Give, and it shall be given to you. This promise, which is added by Luke, means, that the Lord will cause him, who is indulgent, kind, and just to his brethren, to experience the same gentleness from others, and to be treated by them in a generous and friendly manner. 

Matthew 7:3.  And why seest thou the straw?  He expressly touches upon a fault, which is usually found in hypocrites. While they are too quick-sighted in discerning the faults of others, and employ not only severe, but intentionally exaggerated, language in describing them, they throw their own sins behind their back, or are so ingenious in finding apologies for them, that they wish to be held excusable even in very gross offenses. Christ therefore reproves both evils: the excessive sagacity, which arises from a defect of charity, when we sift too closely the faults of brethren, and the indulgence by which we defend and cherish our own sins.”

Here is the link to the full Calvin Commentary on Matthew 7:1-5 – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 12, 2009

“Turning the other cheek” to avoid the blow but to also be patient

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:38-42.
 
38  “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’  

39  “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40  “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

41  “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

42  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”  Matthew 5:38-42. 

  

Here is Calvin’s Commentary – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Here are some quotes from Calvin’s Commentary in italic interspersed with my comments in regular font.  “God had enjoined, by his law, (Leviticus 24:20,) that judges and magistrates should punish those who had done injuries, by making them endure as much as they had inflicted.’  

But some wrongly thought the law entitled them to also take private revenge.  “They thought that they did no wrong, provided they were not the first to make the attack, but only, when injured, returned like for like.”

“Christ informs them, on the contrary, that, though judges were entrusted with the defense of the community, and were invested with authority to restrain the wicked and repress their violence, yet it is the duty of every man to bear patiently the injuries which he receives.”  (Emphasis added.)

“There are two ways of resisting: the one, by warding off injuries through inoffensive conduct; the other, by retaliation.  Though Christ does not permit his people to repel violence by violence, yet he does not forbid them to endeavor to avoid an unjust attack. … He afterwards extends the law of patience so far, that we are not only to bear patiently the injuries we have received, but to prepare for bearing fresh injuries. The amount of the whole admonition is, that believers should learn to forget the wrongs that have been done them, — that they should not, when injured, break out into hatred or ill-will, or wish to commit an injury on their part, — but that, the more the obstinacy and rage of wicked men was excited and inflamed, they should be the more fully disposed to exercise patience.”
 
“Christ now glances at another kind of annoyance, and that is, when wicked men torment us with law-suits. He commands us, even on such an occasion, to be so patient and submissive that, when our coat has been taken away, we shall be prepared to give up our cloak also. None but a fool will stand upon the words, so as to maintain, that we must yield to our opponents what they demand, before coming into a court of law: for such compliance would more strongly inflame the minds of wicked men to robbery and extortion; and we know, that nothing was farther from the design of Christ.  … In short, when Christians meet with one who endeavors to wrench from them a part of their property, they ought to be prepared to lose the whole.  Hence we conclude, that Christians are not entirely prohibited from engaging in law-suits, provided they have a just defense to offer. Though they do not surrender their goods as a prey, yet they do not depart from this doctrine of Christ, which exhorts us to bear patiently “the spoiling of our goods,” (Hebrews 10:34.)”
 
“We are only enjoined to exercise patience, that we may not be unduly distressed by the loss of our property, but calmly wait, till the Lord himself shall call the robbers to account.”
 
In summary, whether it be violent attacks or unjust lawsuits, we can ward them off through inoffensive conduct or just defenses.  But, we must be fully disposed to exercise patience.  We may not be unduly distressed by injuries or loss of property, realizing the following two principles: 
First, Luke 12:15 :  “Then He said to them, ” Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”  
Second, Romans 12:19 : “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ” VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 12, 2009

Swearing

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:33-37. 
 
33  “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’
                                              
34  “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
                                                
35  or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.

36  “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37  “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”  Matthew 5:33-37. 

This is a puzzling and specific Scripture passage on a minor point.  I did not have any ideas on how to comment on it prior to my research.  I was tempted to not write on it.  But, I decided to read what Calvin had to say concerning it.  Here is the link to it –
 
What I thought was most interesting were the following quotes:
 
“For God condemned in the law not only acts of perjury, but lightness in swearing, which lessens the reverence for his name. The man who perjures himself is not the only person who takes the name of God in vain, (Exodus 20:7.) He does so, who idly and contemptuously pronounces the name of God on trivial occasions, or in ordinary conversation. While the law condemns every kind of profanation of the name of God the Jews imagined, that the guilt of it lay entirely in acts of perjury. Christ reproves this gross error of supposing that they might, without danger, abuse the name of God, provided they did not swear falsely.”
  
“we ought to refrain from allowing ourselves the liberty of unnecessary swearing: for, when there are just reasons to demand it, the law not only permits, but expressly commands us to swear. Christ, therefore, meant nothing more than this, that all oaths are unlawful, which in any way abuse and profane the sacred name of God, for which they ought to have had the effect of producing a deeper reverence.”
 
“37. But your speech shall be, Yes, yes; No, no.  
Christ now prescribes, in the second place, a remedy; which is, that men act towards each other sincerely and honestly: for then simplicity of speech will have quite as much weight as an oath has among those who are not sincere. Now, this is certainly the best way of correcting faults, to point out the sources from which they spring. Whence comes the great propensity to swearing, but from the great falsehood, the numerous impositions, the unsteady and light conduct, so that hardly any thing is believed?  … “Yes, yes; No, no.” This repetition means, that we ought to abide by our words, so that all may be convinced of our honesty.“
 
 
In summary, not only is perjury condemned by the Law, the Law also condemns the “lightness in swearing” by which we take God’s name in vain.  We should act towards each other sincerely and honestly so that all may be convinced of our honesty, without the perceived need and propensity to swear.  Swearing should be reserved for those very rare and important occasions that the law requires it, such as in a court of law.    

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 9, 2009

“first be reconciled to your brother”

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:23-26. 
                                                                   
“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
                                                      

“Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.”  Matthew 5:23-26.  

Our relationships with others is most important.  “And he answered, ” YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  Luke 10:27 

At first thought, we may wrongly think a religious exercise is more important than our relationship with our Christian brother.  We can even use the prior verse of Luke 10:27 to justify such preference.  After all, we are worshipping God which is more important than getting along with our Christian brother.  But, Jesus makes it clear in the Matthew 5:23-26 passage where our first duty lies.

Similarly, remember the story of the Good Samaritan.  We could wrongly think that the religious exercises of the priest and the Levite were most important, but we know that it was only the Good Samaritan who was praised as the one whom we should imitate.  “Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.  “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  “Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’  “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”  And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”  Luke 10:31-36. 

Thus, when we consider the commandment to love God with all our strength and our neighbor as we love our self, we should not just think in terms of the order of preference.  Although it is true that we should love God above all, it is better to think of our love for our neighbor as part of our duty to love God. 
  1. 1 John 3:10
    By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
    1 John 3:9-11 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)
  2. 1 John 3:17
    But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
    1 John 3:16-18 (in Context) 1 John 3 (Whole Chapter)
  3. 1 John 4:20
    If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
    1 John 4:19-21 (in Context) 1 John 4 (Whole Chapter)
  4. 1 John 4:21
    And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
     

We also need to recognize the special relationship that we have with our Christian brothers and sisters.  Matthew 5:23 above does recognize this special relationship that we have with our brothers.  “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:10  (Emphasis added.)

Finally, as an attorney, I can confirm the great value of the general advice of Jesus to “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law”.  Whether it be a criminal case or a civil case, settlement should be vigorously pursued.  I do not think this Scripture commands us to accept a settlement no matter what the terms are.  There are exceptions to this general advice.  However, it is good general advice to try to settle all court cases, particularly criminal cases where one can often obtain no prison time or much less prison time than if no settlement is reached.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 9, 2009

The strict Law should drive us to Christ

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:21-22.   
 
21  “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
                                             
22  “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Matthew 5:21-22. 

 

The foregoing verse 22 gives us three examples of how our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees as stated in Matthew 5:20:  “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” 

We can speculate that the scribes and Pharisees viewed themselves as quite righteous, because they thought they obeyed the Ten Commandments.  They may have smugly thought:  “We have not murdered anyone!”. 

But, Jesus gives us these three examples of the strict Law’s requirements.

We may tend to dismiss such a strict teaching by secretly thinking:  “He is kidding?!  Right???  He is exaggerating to make a point.”

No, Jesus is not kidding nor exaggerating.  Notice by the fact that  Jesus gives us three examples, he is emphasizing his prior point that our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Notice that Jesus is also demonstrating by his actions, the importance of His prior words in verse 19.   “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:19.

However, we should not leave our comments to these two points:  the Law’s strict requirements and that Jesus practiced what He taught.  This might leave us in a state of hopelessness.  If we can’t obey even the Ten Commandments, then how can we obey the much stricter requirements of the Law?!  If we too often excuse human behavior, and at best are just silent in teaching the Ten Commandments, then how can we teach the strict Law’s requirements as we should?! 

This strict Law should drive us to Christ.  There is no way that we ourselves (through our own strength, knowledge, and willpower) can obey the Law’s strict requirements.  There is no way that we ourselves can teach the Law as we should.  But, there is hope.  “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”  Galatians 3:24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 9, 2009

“so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us”

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:17-20. 
 
“17  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 
                                    
18  “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
                                      
19  “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.                          

 20  “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:17-20.

 

Some wrongly think that the Old Testament represents God’s justice and that the New Testament represents God’s mercy. 

Some wrongly think that God somehow changed from a God of justice to a God of mercy.

The cross should serve as a stark and strong reminder that if there ever was a time for God to ease up on His demands for justice, it would be when His beloved Son was on the cross.  And yet, we know that God did not ease up the slightest on His demands for justice but imposed the full punishment of justice on His beloved Son Who took on our sins.

But, for us naked sinners (the elect), our Savior Jesus Christ did not only take upon Himself the full wrath of God for the guilt of our sins, Jesus Christ clothed us with His righteousness.  “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21 .

This imputed righteousness is the only way that “our” righteousness will “surpass” the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees and be sufficient to allow us to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

God not only credits us and views us with the righteousness of Christ;  God sanctifies us (makes us holy), and leads us in the paths of righteousness through His Holy Spirit which produces fruit of righteousness.  God is not only concerned about how He views us, but He “works out” in our daily lives the righteous behavior befitting such His concern for righteousness.

Although we do not behave perfectly, and we still sin, God has made us slaves of righteousness.  “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”  Romans 6:17-18. 

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4.  (Emphasis added). 

As we walk in the Spirit, we know what fruit is produced by the Spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

In conclusion, by the foregoing we better understand God who states:  “… I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 6, 2009

Stand out! You, salt of the earth and light of the world!

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:13-16. 
 
13  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
                                        
14  “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
                                       

15  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16.  

 

We are the salt of the earth.  We are unique.  Believers should “stand out” as being different than the unbelievers.  But, individual believers should also “stand out” as being different from other believers. 

Salt flavors.  Salt makes one thirsty.  Salt preserves. 

Salt flavors.  “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.  And who is adequate for these things?”  2 Corinthians 2:15-16.

Salt makes one thirsty.  “The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”  John 4:15 .  “Then He said to me, ” It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”  Revelation 21:6 .
                                            

Salt preserves.  “So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”  …  Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?”  And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”  Genesis 18:26-32. 

However, too often, we want to be like everybody else.  We want to blend into the crowd. 

Or, we want to be like someone else.  Speaking about the members of the Body of Christ, “the ear” wants to be “the eye”.  “The eye” wants to be “the tongue” etc. 

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.  If they were all one member, where would the body be?  But now there are many members, but one body.”  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  1 Corinthians 12:11-21.  

We are also the light of the world.  We are unique.  Believers should “stand out” as points of light in a dark world.  But, churches and denominations should also “stand out” as “beacons of light” to assist fellow believers to find their way back safely to harbor.

There is a lot more that could be taught about being salt and light.  But, there is only space herein for one more thought.

There are very few Reformed believers, very few Reformed churches, and very few Reformed denominations.  God has entrusted us, Reformed believers, with the treasure, salt, and light of sound doctrine.  God has given us at least a special understanding of His sovereignty and His salvation.  Although we are not perfect in that special understanding nor perfect in general sound doctrine, we need to faithfully teach it and promote it. 

We may not be as good evangelists as the Baptists nor as good mission workers as the Methodists, at least as to the means of how they intend to accomplish it, but we should not fall to temptation in trying to be just like them and lose our salt and light.  I am not saying that we do not need to be concerned about evangelism and missions, but I am saying that above all, we need to do our own job of being the salt and the light of Reformed doctrine.

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