My Daily Journal:
In building rennovation, sometimes the only way to build something up is to first tear down the weak support structures. In gardening, to allow room for growth you sometimes need to cut back or pull out the weeds. The parables and teachings of the past few weeks lessons are culminating this week as Jesus continues that work with His apostles.
The apostles were Jews, raised in the traditions of the elders. The teachers and pharisees from Jerusalem would have been like getting a visit from the big bosses from the top office at corporate headquarters.
The idea that these bastions of knowledge and wisdom were wrong must have been like a wrecking ball striking the main support beam of what the apostles knew about being an observant Jew. Clean and unclean were not just cornerstones, they had come to be a foundation of the religious.
But Jesus was not simply tearing down the apostles faith, He was building it. He was removing the weak, infested structures and replacing them with rock. The pharisees were offended, but millions would be saved. To secure the foundation of the church, he could not build on the traditions of the elders. He had to build on love, compassion, healing, serving. He had to build on faith in the Word of God.
Sometimes we cannot focus our eyes. There may be an astigmatism or injury. But just like a doctor may prescribe glasses, we can be given sight and the ability to focus through the lens of God’s Word, Jesus Christ.
My Answers:
6.
Rigidly following rules doesn’t make one holy. What flows forth from their heart is a sign of their holiness.
7.
a.
The pharisees were offended
b.
every plan that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots – leave them, they are blind guides
c.
If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit
d.
He was blinded – he thought of the priests and pharisees as holy men who were teaching right things
8.
a.
Your actions and thoughts, the things that come out of you or that you do from your own motivation – not outside influences, but inside: evil thoughts, lust, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, malice and deceit, slander, lewdness, envy, arrogance, folly
b.
envy, worry, greed, slander, folly – yes
The Notes are Good 