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BSF Matthew Week 16, Day 4

My Daily Journal

Jews didn’t eat with gentiles, much less feed 4000 of them. But that is the miracle Jesus performs.

We saw on similar before, with the feeding of the 5000. So similar that it is easy to miss some of the differences.

The Jews sat of grass, the gentiles on the ground. This reminded me of the parable of the sower. The Jews were a field with existing growth, not to mention a number of weeds, but the gentile soil was barren and ready to be be planted.

The feeding of the 5000 had 12 baskets of food left over, the feeding of the 4000 had 7 baskets of food left over. Interesting that there were 12 tribes of Israel and 7 tribes of Canaan.

But I think most interesting and applicable to my life was the response of the Apostles. The apostles had not only been present at the feeding of the 5000, but they were in the middle of the whole thing. Now, just a very short time later, when Jesus turns to them in verse 32 and says, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Not one of His disciples says, “no problem, we have some fish and loaves, let’s do that thing again.” Not one of them asked Him what to do, even though they now recognized and knew that He was the Son of God. Instead, their first response was totally self-reliant. “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

Before I get too harsh on the apostles, I need to confess – this is me. I know who Jesus is, but I don’t ask for miracles. I see the way He has miraculously provided for me and my family, and then the next day I begin worrying about how I’m going to figure things out on my own. I open my eyes and see limited resources instead of looking at things through the lens of faith and seeing unlimited possibilities.

There is a song I enjoy called, “Are you ready for a miracle?” If I’m honest, though, I am too like the apostles – most of the days the answer to the question is no, not really.

How can I make the knowledge of these passages part of my life? I can follow the example of the Canaanite mother. I can pray for miracles for myself and for others. I can not only pray, but I can pray with confidence in the One who has the power to perform those miracles. When I don’t hear an answer, I can keep praying, in faith. When I don’t understand something, I can be like Peter and ask. When I don’t have the strength to carry on, lest I may collapse on the way, I can sit at the feet of Jesus and not only be fed, but be satisfied, knowing that when He provides that provision is magnified. I can be ready for a miracle!

My Answers

13.
a.
Jews      Gentiles
grass              ground
5000               4000
started by apostle, started by Jesus
5 loaves, 7 loaves
2 fishes, some fishes
12 baskets, 7 baskets

b.
Better to get the left-overs, there is more left over than the first served

c.
trust and rely on Jesus alone, He has full power to provide for all my needs, I am blessed to help, not needed to help

BSF Matthew, Week 16, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

The definition of focus is “the center of interest or activity.” What is your focus? What is the center of your interest or activity?

For the Pharisees and teachers who traveled from Jerusalem to meet Jesus, their focus was on “holding to the tradition of the elders.” It wasn’t on God. It wasn’t on the Messiah. It wasn’t on learning and understanding and healing and being healed. It was on ceremony. Ceremony gave them power and authority. Ceremony gave them comfort.

Ceremonies are not inherently wrong. Structure can be very helpful in our walk with God and our approach to learning and studying His word. But when they become the focus instead of an aid, then they are a distraction.

I was with a older friend recently discussing a worship service she attended. She was totally distracted because there were live plants on the alter in the church. According to tradition, only cut flowers are to be placed on the altar as a reminder of the price Christ paid. Nothing wrong with that tradition, and a great pointer back to Jesus, but when it became such a distraction that it prevented worship, it took over the focus.

We have to be careful of this in BSF and in our churches as well. There are many unspoken guidelines of “how we have always done things” that can become the focus. This can often be a major obstacle for people entering bible study or church service because they see the hypocrisy of the distraction of our heart.

The traditions are perfectly fine as “hows”. This is how I approach worship, this is how I prepare myself. But when they become the whats and whys then we need the reminder of the hymn: “turn your eyes upon Jesus… and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim”

My Answers

3.
a.
The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions

b.
Why do you break the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions?

4.
a.
It was a way of weaseling out of using money to support parents by pledging it to the church as a future contribution

b.
The commandments come first, other things that support them are fine, but never over-rule them

5.
a.
let go of commands but hold to traditions. Follow certain rules and obligations but don’t have a heart for or daily walk with God – do not study His word or help others

b.
When I go through the motions instead of taking time to prepare my heart for worship

BSF Matthew, Week 15, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I would not necessarily count the gift of hospitality as one of my spiritual gifts. I know there are people who have this gift. Like Martha, of Mary and Martha fame. There are people at our church (and in BSF) who’s first thought seems to be to always put the needs of others before their own needs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not calloused to the needs of others or against having gatherings, but the organization aspect of it is not one of my gifts. Just like the disciples.

When faced with between 5,000 and 20,000 people in a remote area, their first thought was not one of hospitality, it was how do we move this along and get these people out of here. But Jesus’ words were clear, “You give them something to eat.” (Matt 14:16).

The lesson was one of obedience over comfort and natural inclinations. Jesus didn’t ask them. Jesus didn’t tell them to form a committee. Jesus didn’t seek out the people of the crowd who had the most to redistribute it. Jesus didn’t chastise the people for being unprepared, He responded as one in charge should respond. He gave clear and explicit direction. 1. You give them something to eat, 2. Bring what you have to me. 3. He directed them into groups.

And, what happened? The same thing that always happens when we serve others in obedience to Jesus. What we end up with is always more than what we began with. When we care for others in Jesus name, the care we receive back is always greater. When we love others in Jesus name, the same is true.

Don’t miss the fact that there were 12 disciples and 12 baskets left over, each completely full.

While I understand the role of spiritual gifts, I think this miracle demonstrates it is never our own gifts we should rely upon, but the gift of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to be obedient to Him, to submit to His organization, to follow His commands, to do the work He gives me to do, to trust fully in Him, not my needs, wants, comfort-level, weariness or hunger. Obedience comes first.

My Answers:

7.
a.
John the Baptist had been murdered by Herod. Herod wanted to see Jesus.

b.
He had compassion on them. He had them fed

8.
a.
They were practical. They were in a remote place with 5000 people, it was late, they were hungry. “not my problem”

b.
Jesus taught them the economies of Heaven. Which begin and end with reliance on Jesus. They do not need to go away – you feed them. Bring them to me. They all ate and were satisfied.

9.
a.
bring them to me. Give thanks to heaven. Begin with what you have and serve others with it. All are satisfied and the remaining is more than what you start with.

b.
Compassion, power, miracle maker, take care of physical needs so that spiritual needs can be met

c.
When I’m at then end of my resources it reminds me to rely on Jesus to keep and protect and nourish me in a way I can’t do for myself

d.
By feeding them. By being compassionate. By trusting in God to magnify what I hold into enough.

BSF Matthew, Week 15, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Today’s lesson is an amazing example of the theory of evolution in practice with humans. Herod was a case study in the survival of the fittest. He achieved power. He was the ruler of the kingdom. He took what he wanted. He did everything and anything necessary to maintain that status and power. Even his relationships with others were all about power: who had it, who controlled it, who had the ability to disseminate it. Things like God and prophets and the Messiah were curiosities, things to be enjoyed.

This is what survival of the fittest looks like. We as humans do not become better, kinder, more caring individuals when left to our own ways. We become egomaniacs, murderers, adulterers, rulers, twisted, misguided, manipulators. When others point out our sins and wrongs we strike back, hard, to make an example of them.

Herod demonstrated the character of man (you and me) fully incarnate. Jesus represents the character of God fully incarnate. Oh, and what a difference there is!

The only way to evolve into something better than we are by our own character is to be transformed into His character.

My Answers:

3.
a.
This is messed up. Herod is sleeping with his brother’s wife and has a daughter by her. She dances at his birthday party in front of guests and he is so pleased he asks her to name anything she wants and she asks for JTB’s head on a platter.

b.
Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man

4.
a.
he knew him to be a righteous and holy man, he was greatly puzzled but liked to listen to him. He was afraid because he was known as a profit

b.
to save face 26: because of his oaths and dinner guests. Because he was blinded by sin 18 is is not lawful for you

c.
Of course not – oath vs. murder???

d.
Mark 6:16 John, whom I beheaded (guilt) Luke 9:9 I beheaded John – who is this>?

5.
a.
As a fox

b.
Nothing

c.
Herod would not be changed by words, no matter how convicting. He simply wanted entertainment

6.
Snowball effect of power corrupting

13.5 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

There was a beauty in the interpretation of the “field” in this parable. In one part, it clearly was an individual, their own personal heart/faith. In another it was the church or body of all believers, producing a harvest together. We may think of this as a duality, a use of the same illustration for two different purposes. But I don’t think that is accurate.

Instead, I think it reflects how Jesus views us. We are simultaneously individuals and the collective body. We are personal and unified. We are one and many. We are a heart and body. Just as Jesus is a man, He is also unified with the Father and Holy Spirit as God.

And then the lesson within it. We fixate. We see one stain and we can’t let it go, we see one weed and we can’t wait to yank it out. But it isn’t our job. God has it covered. He knows exactly what to do and when to do it. We do not need to concern ourselves with pointing out every wrong in others to weed them out. We need to sow more seeds and produce more fruit. It has always been this way, it always will.

The church is full of sinners. My life is still filled with rocks and weeds and I trip and fall. God doesn’t require purity for admission, He requires admission of Himself into our hearts so that He can create purity in them. Psalm 51: create in me a clean heart!

My Answers:

12.
a.
Son of Man – The devil

b.
The Sons of the Kingdom

c.
the world

d.
The sons of the evil one

e.
The end of the age

f.
Angels

13.
a.
Deceitful – conniving

b.
While pulling the weeds you uproot the wheat with them – let both grow together til the harvest

c.
those who wish to bring harm to Christianity populate themselves within the midst of the church

14.
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father

13.2 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I got caught up in Matthew 13:23 today. “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

There are three responses we are called to make:

Hear
Understand
Produce

But responses to what? This took me back to Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Ask
Seek
Knock

I thought it was interesting how these parallel each other. When we ask, our required response is to hear. When we seek, our required action is to understand and when we knock on the door and it is open, our job is not done – we are called to produce fruit.

But how often are we like the religious leaders of this time. They asked lots of questions. Every week of our study we see then asking more challenging questions, but they did not hear – they already made up their mind. In the same way, we cry out to God for direction, for a sign, for His intervention in our lives, but then we don’t read the book He gave us and we fight His calling if it doesn’t match our wants and desires.

The religious leaders sought wisdom, they sought approval from God by obeying His laws (and additional ones), they sought a Messiah, but when all of this was in their face, they didn’t understand. Their mind and hearts were closed off. How often do we do the same – asking God to answer a prayer, but only in a specific way that suits our thinking about what is best?

Finally, the shepherds of the time were more interested in beating their flocks into submission than in producing fruit. When the door is open to help bring someone closer to the Lord, do we step through and do the hard work required?

My Answers:

3.
a.
Earthly story with a heavenly meaning

b.
Yes, Matt 11:25 – Jesus praised God “because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

c.
The word of God (Luke) The good news of salvation, the origin of faith

4.
These phrases are in Luke only:
were coming to Jesus from town after town,
His disciples asked him
The knowledge of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

5.
a.
He, Jesus, is the farmer (or more appropriately, the seed company – the producer of the seed)

b.
path; hears does not understand (devil snatches away); rocky ground: hears, receives w/joy, no root, at trouble fall away; thorns: hears, worry and wickedness choke it; good soil: hears, understnd, produce

6.
14: If you love me, keep my commands (love/obedience)
15: I am the voice; you are the branches, remain in me, bear fruit (God’s strength)
5: Peter & apostles, “we must obey God rather than human beings” (obedience)
2: work out salvation w/fear/trembling, God who works in you: His good purposes (by God/for God)

12.5 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Now we are getting somewhere. The pharisees and religious leaders recognize that Jesus has super-natural power. Literally. Natural power is power related to nature, to the physical world. But they have taken a huge step forward and proclaimed that Jesus has power that is greater than that. It is from out-of-the world, super-natural, it is from the spirit world.

There are only two possible sources for the power: heaven or hell. Having acknowledged that Jesus was more than man, they then had to decide from where He and His power originates.

They chose wrong. All of scripture, every prophecy, every law, every sacrifice, every word that they studied and taught every day pointed to and was being fulfilled in this man Jesus. While they had dedicated their life to this teaching – they wanted more. They weren’t satisfied with the relationship God had provided, they wanted something else. They wanted to commit adultery against the scripture.

Jesus spoke to them very clearly. He said the only sign they would receive was one from scripture. He said, you have correctly deduced the situation – heaven or hell. But, since hell and the devil makes no sense and can be eliminated, then you must acknowledge Jesus is from Heaven. To not do so is to choose hell themselves.

Do you acknowledge that Jesus was more than a man? If so, He is super-natural and every sign, every word, every prophecy tells which uniform he wears: a white robe dipped in blood and emblazoned with the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

My Answers:

11.
a.
His power and authority over demons

b.
Prince of this world (John 12:31) will be driven out also John 14:30. Baal-zebub 2 Kings 1 Philistine god, Satan, the adversary, devil (James 4:7), the god of this age (2 Cor 4:). This house is the earth

12.
The H/S teaches and convicts me of my sin. If I had rejected the H/S fully, then I would not face such warning or conviction, but instead I would appoint myself as judge and judge my sin to be right and acceptable

13.
I use too few words that proclaim the glory of Christ. I miss opportunities to have serious engagement by joking.

14.
a.
Every sign and prophecy of the old testament pointed to Christ and was being fulfilled, in their presence, by Him. But they wanted something outside of all of those teachings, some other sign

b.
The sign of Jonah. Jesus’ death and resurrection

c.
We are not to be empty shells. The goal of salvation is not to empty us of evil and impurity but to fill us with the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

15.
In love and giving to brothers and sisters in Christ. In coming alongside missionaries and pastors and teachers. By walking that road myself and with my family

12.3 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I slipped in the garage the other day. I didn’t fall, but, the floor was dusty and my shoes were not giving me the traction I needed for the work I was doing. I had been out in the yard previously and when I looked at the soles of my shoes they had become caked in dirt, with the grooves filled in so the surface lacked texture.

That is how our heart and soul can become in the muck of this world. We can become calloused. We can become caked over. We can see the word of the gospel but it does not have traction in our lives.

Jesus tells us to achieve true rest first requires real work. We have to re-cut the furrows, the grooves, in the field of our life. We have to dig out the weeds and stones and replace them with living seeds. We have to prepare our heart to receive peace and rest.

But Jesus also tells us that this work is not for us to do alone. He calls us to yoke to Him. To ask Him to work along side of us and, when we do, we will find rest in Him.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Chorizin/Bethsaida to Tyre/Sidon (they would have been in sackcloth and ashes, more bearable for them than you; Capernaum to Hades. If miracles in you in Sodom, it would have remained, more bearable for Sodom @ Judgment

b.
They witnessed the promised one. They saw first hand the miracles. And, they still chose to turn away from Jesus.

c.
We have the full bible. We have the full record of Jesus’ saving act, the old and new testaments

7.
Revelation of God is only through God, not to be “deduced” by the logic of man. While we have free will, that does not usurp God’s control and His desire to show Himself only through Jesus, His son.

8.
a. all who are weary and burdened
b. I will give you rest
c. take my yoke upon you and learn from me
d. To be co-yoked with Christ is to be the apprentice with the master, doing His work with Him. Through this we find rest.

11.04 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

My wife has enrolled this semester in a college class. She is taking it to develop her own skills so that she, in turn, can help coach and develop those skills in our children. I love and admire not only her passion for learning, but also her willingness and diligence to serve our family.

At this point, her class is well into the semester. There are a few students who are working very hard in the class. They show up every class period. They complete the assignments with their best efforts. They do the homework, ask questions, stay after for extra work and coaching. There are also others who are not. These students skip class repeatedly or show up late or leave early. They habitually turn in assignments late or not at all and spend their class time distracted and doing other things.

Given the cost of the college course, this at first amazed my wife. Then she learned that some of the students were on grant programs so they did not have to pay for the class.

I’m not raising this as a commentary about grants or welfare programs. But, simply, the recognition that when you have paid a significant cost you are dedicated and invested in the journey.

Jesus tells us that there will be costs that we will have to pay to follow Him. Let’s be clear, Jesus is God and with a word, He could remove all of those costs. It is not because He does not have the power.

Jesus wants more than our hands or voice. He wants our hearts. He doesn’t want a worker who runs away at the first sign of danger, He wants shepherds who follow in His image.

Think of the most powerful testimonies you have heard. They don’t come from believers with perfect, care-free lives. They come from believers who have experienced pain and hardship. They come from people who have survived events that they could not possibly survive by their own strength.

Acts 5:41: “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”

My Answers:

8.
a.
handed over, flogged, witness to gentiles, arrest, brother betray brother to death, father child, hated because of Me.
Acts 12:1-2 James martyred, Acts 7 Stephen martyred

b.
After resurrection and ascension

c.
Even unto the second coming, there will still be Jews (God’s chosen people) who do not truly know and/or have heard the good news of Jesus Christ

9.
a.
handed over, flogged, witness to gentiles, arrest, brother betray brother to death, father child, hated because of Me

b.
Internationally, everywhere – families torn apart when members deny the power of the Lord

c.
Even those who persecute the church are not beyond the reach of the Spirit of God (Saul/Paul martyrdom of Stephen)

10.
a.
26. nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 28. kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Nothing outside of Father’s care. Hairs of head are all numbered!

b.
all revealed on judgment day, life hidden in death but revealed in resurrection, light to the house not hidden, more to say that you can now bear to hear

c.
life is only hidden in death, not over – looking forward to reunion with loved ones in Christ who have died.

11.02 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I think the harvest field is such a beautiful and fitting image of the calling of Christians. When we plant crops, we turn them over to God. He is the only one who can make something grow. To take it from a seed to a plant producing fruit and seeds. He provides the soil. He provides the nutrients. He provides the rain and sunshine. There is work to be done, including the work of bringing in the harvest, but, as we learn this week, He even provides for that. He doesn’t say go and hire people or go and beg people or go and threaten people or go and scare/guilt people into the work. He says to pray and God will provide.

We often forget this and begin to think we (you and I) need to get busy making plans and recruiting. We need to get out there and polish our sales pitch. God does call us to get out of our “holy huddle”, but it also makes it abundantly clear that the workers, the work, the power, the authority and even the harvest all are from and for Him alone. Anything we allow ourselves to be tricked into thinking comes from our own power is an insult to the One from whom the true power and authority belongs.

My Answers:

3.
a.
It is His nature. They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd

b.
Ps: The Lord is my shepherd
Is: We all like sheep (Lord laid on Him the iniquity of all) He bore our sins
Je: lost sheep, scattered flock, led astray by shepherds, wandering
Ez: cared for self rather than flock, I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable
Jo: I am the good shepherd, not a hired hand

c.
Those in churches which do not follow scripture, everyone believe what they want, not the truth of God

4.
a.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers

b.
authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness

c.
Authority of truth of His word. Power: the hope, the riches, His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead (Eph 1)