Simply Stated: Recent Episodes
V. Blaine Hill
Simple statements of Christian truth and life to help us reflect on following Jesus. This podcast supplements The Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC.
Two reasons I plan to take the COVID Vaccine: Consideration of others, standing for truth.
https://www.leaderslearning.net/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-learning/id1524853435
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will
give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light.” (Mathew 11:28-30)
April 23, 2020 devotional on Ecclesiastes 3"1-5 and James 1:5, discerning the times in wisdom.
Responding to worrying circumstances with proper action today and faith for the future.
Devotional about Fear and Courage Three Bible based responses to our our fear A word of encouragement in Joshua 1:6-7. 10 A challenge to our fear because of the Lord's favor. A promise in the face of frightening situations because of who the Lord is, and because the Lord is with us.
Luke 1:30, 34 Mary, the mother of Jesus, finds favor and a bold voice.
Isaiah 43:2 Salvation in the Lord.
SOM 21
February 16, 2020
Matthew 7:21-23
Season 1, Episode 18
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say
to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your
name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
INTRODUCTION
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for you, the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 7:21-23
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I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)
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Read 7:21-23
A BLOCK
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Not …but. Jesus is uses antithesis again. We heard 6 earlier in SOM.
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Lord: Title of honor, used of Caesar and indicates the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Key point Jesus will make is that one obeys a LORD.
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Will enter …on that day…then. Here Jesus is clearly talking about the future. So while the Kingdom of heaven had some sense of being present at the beginning of the SoM, that is not the whole sense. Jesus is pointing to something in the future.
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Did we not 1. Prophesy, 2. Cast out demons 3. Deeds of power in your name. Jesus has no interest in spiritual fireworks. [Useful to compare this to similar surprise in Matthew 25]
Jesus has not been talking about the kinds of activity that they are holding forward.
- So what does Jesus want and make judgement based upon? He has just laid out a large and robust pattern of life. He has given two images
a. Two gates and paths—course of life
b. Tree and fruit—bearing fruit, being of service and good in the world.
- “Go away from me, you evil doers.” Ouch!
a. Do you have some names you would like to put on the go away list?
b. Why is Jesus using such obnoxious language? Some people like to be scared or scolded. I think he is trying to get our attention for a critical issue. Evildoers means anti-law (Bruner 358). Jesus’ critic is a failure to obey his teaching.
B BLOCK
- What are some common depictions understandings of the last judgement?
a. Ledger book of good and bad deeds
b. Judged by being decent sort of person
c. Zero. Don’t consider it in any practical sense.
d. Contrast with 11:28 ff.
e.
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How do verse 21-23 inform the Christian understanding of the last judgement.?
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Deeply puzzling: The people Jesus rejects are centered on Christ in doctrine (Lord, Lord) and spiritually gifted. But they don’t indicate obedience (Bruner 355-6). They are impressed with their own devotion and success, but they don’t demonstrate the Beattitudes at the start of the SOM (Bruner 357-8). They seem to hunger and thirst for power but not for righteousness 5:6 (Bruner 358)
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“They believe that they know Jesus, but apparently they never gave him a chance to know them (I never really knew you), that is they never gave him a chance to come into personal contact with their innermost life (the force of the biblical word “know”). It is strangley possible to serve and even to glorify Christ and yet in one’s own personal life no to obey him.” (Bruner 357).
Outline of SoM
What has Jesus taught and spoken for the LORD?
a. A gentle word of grace and blessing 5:1-12
b. As people who are part of God’s work we are to be of good to the world: salt, light.12-16
c. Jesus teaching goals—to fill up the teaching of the law and prophets 17-20
Block on relation to people: 6 antitheses you heard…I say
a. Starts with angeràseek out reconciliation 21-26
b. Starts with adulteryà intentions matter 27-30
c. Starts with divorceà we don’t rid ourselves of people 31-32
d. Starts with oathsà truthfulness in speach 33-37
e. Starts with retaliationàresponding to contempt, coercion and manipulation 38-42
f. Friends and enemiesàlove based in God 43-48
Block on religious actions 6 avoiding hypocrisy
a. Almsgiving-secret
b. Prayer—private; model
c. Fasting-internal
d. Storing up treasure
e. Illustrations: a sound eye (goals?); servants and masters
f. About worry
More on people 7
a. A Do not judge and condemn 1-5
b. A’ …but use some discernment
c. B Persist in prayer (which I suspect involves frustration with people)
d. B’ …and use your creativity and imagination with other people.
Three illustrations
a. Difficult for better, easy for worse 13-14
b. Teacher evaluation format: a tree and the fruit 15-20
c. Provocative wake up at the wind up. 21-23
d. Two builders-hearers and doers 24-27
- Jesus comparison to fruit and thorns invites us to ask obvious questions:
a. Does Jesus teach bear good or bad fruit?
b. Is he a true or false prophet?
c. If true, will we head his teaching?
d. Which teaching have you seen bear fruit in some one’s life, yourself or another?
e. More specific: Which teaching will we apply?
CLOSING
Invitation to trust in Jesus himself, not only his teaching.
Thanks, and ask for feedback.
Include a prayer
OUTLINE OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
What has Jesus taught and spoken for the LORD
a. A gentle word of grace and blessing 5:1-12
b. As people who are part of God’s work we are to be of good to the world: salt, light.12-16
c. Jesus teaching goals—to fill up the teaching of the law and prophets 17-20
Block on relation to people: 6 antitheses you heard…I say
a. Starts with angeràseek out reconciliation 21-26
b. Starts with adulteryà intentions matter 27-30
c. Starts with divorceà we don’t rid ourselves of people 31-32
d. Starts with oathsà truthfulness in speach 33-37
e. Starts with retaliationàresponding to contempt, coercion and manipulation 38-42
f. Friends and enemiesàlove based in God 43-48
Block on religious actions 6 avoiding hypocrisy
a. Almsgiving-secret
b. Prayer—private; model
c. Fasting-internal
d. Storing up treasure
e. Illustrations: a sound eye (goals?); servants and masters
f. About worry
More on people 7
a. A Do not judge and condemn 1-5
b. A’ …but use some discernment
c. B Persist in prayer (which I suspect involves frustration with people)
d. B’ …and use your creativity and imagination with other people.
Three illustrations
a. Difficult for better, easy for worse 13-14
b. Teacher evaluation format: a tree and the fruit 15-20
c. Provocative wake up at the wind up. 21-23
d. Two builders-hearers and doers 24-27
February 2, 2020
Matthew 7:13-14
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy a(3171)
that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
INTRODUCTION
- Why do something that is difficult?
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade…, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win..."
President John F. Kennedy September 12, 1962 at Rice University
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for you, the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 7:13-14
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I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)
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Read 7:13-14
A BLOCK
- Structure
a. Repetition and contrast to make sticky. This is a meme. An idea with the power to repeat itself.
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Bible Context: What comes before and after? Teaching on how to live our life as part of the Kingdom. This begins the end of Jesus SOM. He gives three contrast, two ways, two harvest, two builders.
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Wayàmanner of living in Paul and imagination: The American way of life
B BLOCK
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Blunt and tough speech: The toughness of the end of the sermon mirrors the grace and tenderness of the Beatitudes.
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Life outside of Jesus is alluring—do as you see fit. Any mature and experienced view of the world knows that we must live with limitations. Life is chaotic and hard even in limitations. What set of borders will we submit to? On what basis will we make difficult decisions in difficult circumstances?
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Link John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7
- What way of living is Jesus talking about? Last passage we looked at:
a. Do not judge and condemn
b. But be discerning
c. Ask in prayer
d. And use your own imagination
- Jesus is not being hard-nosed here. He is warning us of danger and trying to show us the best way. Psalm 1:1-2
Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
Warning us about the danger of an easy way of life; invitation to a way that leads to life.
CLOSING
Invitation to trust in Jesus himself, not only his teaching.
Thanks, and ask for feedback.
Include a prayer
December 8, 2019
Matthew 6:9-15
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
9“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.c(3157)
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,d(3158)
but rescue us from the evil one.e(3159)
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
INTRODUCTION
- The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most widely known and loved part of the New Testament. The Lord’s prayer is one of a few pieces of Christian scripture that people might know by heart. John Hodgman shares this fact about himself: he says the Lord’s Prayer every evening, as a result of saying it with his mother every evening in her dying days. My understanding is that Bruce Springsteen ended his Broadway show by singing the Lord’s Prayer. Many congregations say the Lord’s Prayer every time they gather. It is easy to argue that Jesus teaching on prayer is the most significant and powerful thing he teaches.
2.
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for you, the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 6:9-15 , which includes the Lord’s Prayer. I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)
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Read 6:9-17
A BLOCK
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Our-this is a prayer for the community, so even if we are alone praying in secret (6:6), we are praying with other people.
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Father—Jesus sets the prayer in the context of close, family intimacy. Our requests, and the implied expectations, are not a business exchange or magical superstition. We are in a family relationship in prayer
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Structure. Pretty easy to notice 6 distinct request
a. One, Hallowed be they name. This si a request that the holiness of the LORD God would be be made known—to us and the world.
b. Two, Thy Kingdom come. Worth remembering that a kingdom was not an abstraction for Jesus’ original audience. They lived under the empire of Rome and were hoping for a regime change.
c. Three, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. First it is a a decision to put our lives under God’s direction. It also places our desires under God’s plan
d. Sometimes divided into two table, much like the ten commandments. The first three requests are about God; last three are about us. The phrase “on earth as it is in heaven” directs our attention toward earthly matters.
e. Four, Give us this day our daily bread. Request for our needs, which opens up a doorway into all of what we might needs.
f. Five Forgive us our debts, as we forgie our debtors. Simple request for forgiveness of sins, using the metaphor for finance. Notice, this clearly carries and expection of us as children of God.
g. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. First notice that our translation actually says time of trial, which can be understood as time of testing. Either way, it is a situation in which we could fail and need deliverance. We have external enemies. There is a power in the world which seeks our destruction. That could be a purely spiritual reality, the evil one, the devil. But we also need deliverance from evil social structures, situation and conditions.
- Shockingly direct expansion on prayer about forgiveness. Clearly in the household of God the children are expected to forgive. Period. Those are the house rules. We live by them by asking for forgiveness and extending God’s forgiveness. Jesus tells a striking parable about this in Matthew 18:23-35, if you want to follow up. It is a doozie!
B BLOCK
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Teach us about Jesus: Remember, the person who taught this prayer, has conquered death and is alive. We can ask him about what he means, though Jesus’ customary mode of answering our questions is pretty elliptical.
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How to pray: Luther’s Frequent, intense and brief
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Prayer to use and “a pattern according to which we are to make other prayers;”
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Which request holds your attention most strongly?
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[In the class have participants circle the petition that appeals to them most.
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Ethics:Each request toward God denotes an ability and requirement of the person praying.
“Each of these six petitions involves an act of God, and each spedifies or implies participation on the part of the believer. That is, each involves the sovereignty of God and the freedom and responsibility of the human person.” Ken Bailey
Think of the request that most grabbed your attention.
I am assuming that you can see how the request illuminates who God is. What does your request help you see about yourself, someone made in the image of God, redeemed by Christ, and living in the power of the Holy Spirit. What freedom and responsibility does your petition specify or imply.
Let me give you an example.
I pray “Thy Kingdom Come.” I want God’s Kingdom to come where people have adequate housing and access to good schools. I’m drawn to this in part because my part of the county is wrestling with zoning questions, housing values and expectations for the countryside. On top of that, our rapidly growing school district is struggling with providing school space-where and if to build new schools, school zone boundaries, and who gets to attend which schools.
Praying “Thy Kingdom Come” presses me to ask some pretty uncomfortable questions about how I talk to the people in my neighborhood about the proposed apartment complex, CVS and Chik-fil-a near our home. It is likely that they will affect housing values. But what responsibility, and freedom, do I have to work toward an element of the Kingdom of Heaven near my home?
At the same time, praying “Thy Kingdom Come” can empower me to ask, “how will we build up decent housing and education in our community?”
Which part of the Lord’s prayer is grabbing your attention?
Could it be more than a need, but a call as well?
CLOSING
November 24, 2019 How to treat your enemies.
Matthew 6:1-4
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then
you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell
you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
INTRODUCTION
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Cliché: Your character is how you behave when no one can see you. A godly and god-fearing person knows that God can always see what we do—whether good or bad, or just mundane. True piety and right religious character is to move much of our religious life to where only God can see us. Here is an easy relogous question: what do you do in private. Jesus seems interested in a different question: what good actions will you move or keep in private?
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 6:1-. I’ll get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll try to draw some wisdom out of the passage (person of Jesus, theology, eternity, ethics)
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Read 6:1-4
A BLOCK
- Stating things Simply
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then
you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
a. Beware-
· first direct warning, though much of his teaching certainly cautions and warns us.
· But no a strict prohibition. Jesus seems to be moving into how we ought to act—our intentions. “in order to be seen…”
b. Practicing piety:
· Gives three examples: almsgiving, prayer and fasting.
· Language link to righteousness.
c. Reward. Jesus casually recognizes that human beings respond to incentives. Major cornerstone of modern economic theory. People want, even need, to be noticed.
d. Father-household economy, not market economy. Parents may reward children, but they don’t look at them as workers, who must produce.
e. Structure: When you give/pray/fast, don’t _____________, but _______
2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites
do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell
you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
f. Alms. Actions to assist others. Direct aid or any actions to benefit others. Charity, working for social change (19th century evangelical abolition work). Intersting that Jesus list alms first. Perhaps acting for others is the most important sort of piety.
g. Hypocrits: greek word for actor. Meaning deceivers. It seems Jesus is the person who brought the word hypocrits into moral vocab of western world (Willard Conspiracy 191)
h. Sound trumpet—did folks do so? Maybe! Could be sound of coin in trumpet shaped tubes into gift box (which I prefer). Or simply colorful language.
i. Gotten their reward—paid in full.
j. One hand/other—great image in itself. Perhaps calling for internal quiet and avoidance of self-congratulation?
k. Sees/Watching—heavenly father is paying attention to us; We don’t do good just for it’s own sake!
l. Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
m.
B BLOCK
- Person: What do Jesus words reveals about who he is?
· Jesus easily and unproblematicly recognizes that humans respond to rewards/incentives/consequences, just as he recognized that we are tempted to nurse a grudge, shrug off a difficult relationship, want to retaliate and have enemies. How would it reshape our discipleship if we presumed an easy, comfortable and profound understanding and acceptance of human nature?
· Introduces hypocrits to moral convo. Jesus has his hand on the tiller guiding our understanding of morality in Western civilization.
·
- Theology: What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?
· Importance of understanding God as our heavenly Father. Language is about our relationship to God, who is not distant or remote, but attentive.
·
- Eternity: How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?
· Father in Heaven. Different axis and scale for our rewards.
· God’s omnipotence is meant to encourage us!
- Ethics: What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?
(Bruner’s little steps; Willard’s dikaiosune –how is a good person to live?)
· Actions to assist others. Direct aid or any actions to benefit others. Charity, working for social change (19th century evangelical abolition work). Intersting that Jesus list alms first. Perhaps acting for others is the most important sort of piety.
· We act for the good of others because we are part of the household of God. We must assume that a caring father watches what we do to correct our error and sin, and to reward and encourage our
· Bit upside down: Americans are often quite touchy about letting others know what they do or don’t give (Al Gore? Failure to contribute; Mitt Romney [i]). Sometimes obeying this verse; sometimes hiding our lack of generosity.
CLOSING
Who is on your enemies list?
[i] https://www.politico.com/story/2012/09/romney-gives-more-to-charity-than-obama-biden-081529
November 17, 2019 How to treat your enemies.
Matthew 5: 43-48
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the
evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you
love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the
same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,m(3154) what more are you
doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your
heavenly Father is perfect.
Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
INTRODUCTION
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What if you were in charge of Santa’s Naughty and nice list? Do you have some people who you would include on the naughty list, no matter what? Or more practically, do you have some names you could quickly put on an enemies list, like President Richard Nixon had?[i] Maybe we don’t want to publically state even the fact that we have enemies at all. Surprisingly, Jesus spends no time wonder if he had enemies or that we have enemies. He knows we do. Here is the big question: How will we treat our enemies?
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 5:43-38. I’ll try to get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll see what we can learn about the person of Jesus, understand theologically, about eternity and take some ethical guides from the reading.
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Read 5:43-48
A BLOCK
- Stating things Simply
a. This is the 6th and final in a series of antithesis: you heard in the past…but I say…. This is the structure Jesus uses in his teaching about how he is fulfilling the law (5:17)
b. The law:
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy
i. Love your neighbor: Leviticus 19:18
ii. Hate your neighbor is not a command of the law, but it is a troubling and fair summary of considerable parts of the Old Testament. A few examples
· The slaughter of the people living in Canaan in the book of Joshua
· Psalm 35:7-9
iii. Let’s be clear: enemies are, by definition, people to hate. The people you hate are enemies. Once again, we find Jesus speaking in powerfull, unsettling ways.
c. So what does Jesus do to fulfill the law?
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
i.
ii.
d. Why in the world would we possibly love our enemies or pray for people who persecute us?
so that you may be children of your Father in heaven;
e. Love based in God alone
for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,m(3154) what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
f. The end game
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
B BLOCK
- Person: What do Jesus words reveals about who he is?
· He knows we have enemies. He understands the world better than we would like.
· Compare to Dan Crenshaw. Injunction that our fight is taken up by opposing ideas, not people.
· Jesus understands that there are people who oppose us.
- Theology: What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?
· Jesus call upon us byflipping what is usuall called theodicy: Why do bad things happen to good people [if god is good and powerful]
· He notes that good things happen to bad people.
· God as our father
- Eternity: How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?
· Father in Heaven.Different point of view.
- Ethics: What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?
(Bruner’s little steps; Willard’s dikaiosune –how is a good person to live?)
· We are called ato maturity, not just proper sentiment or behavior.
· We should actually pray for our enemies, especially corporately
· Obey commands because they shape us. Example—my kids care for dog to create in them fulfillment of commitments—to dog, and to me.
CLOSING
Who is on your enemies list?
Thanks for listening to the podcast for the Journey Sunday School class. A Production of Simply Stated from Hey, Vern! Media.
Invite comment or questions
God bless you
[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixon%27s_Enemies_List
November 10, 2019
Matthew 5: 38-42
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
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 evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek,
turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak
as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
INTRODUCTION
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How should Christians respond when they are insulted, pressured, manipulated, forced to do something you would not choose to do? Or to flip the question around—how would you like a Christian to respond to you if you get pushy or manipulative, even pressing and insulting.
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Today we are reading Matthew 5:38-42 retaliation. I’ll try to get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll see what we can learn about the person of Jesus, understand theologically, about eternity and take some ethical guides from the reading.
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Read 5:38-42
A BLOCK
- Stating things Simply
a. This is the 5th in a series of antithesis: you heard in the past…but I say…. This is the structure Jesus uses in his teaching about how he is fulfilling the law (5:17)
b. The law: an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
i. Leviticus 24:20; Exodus 21:24; Deut 19:21
ii. It is pitiless and harsh, but it is not unfair and not barbaric
iii. This law ismeant to LIMIT retaliation. One may not take a life for an eye or tooth, contrary to Lamech in Genesis 4:23.
iv. This law requires justice. Anyone who strikes someone else and blinds them must be punished. You can sees the issue of justice clearly in that a slave owner may not blind a slave (Ex. 21:26) and there is to be one law for alien and citizen, alike (Leviticus 24:22).
v. The punishment is to fit the crime. It is not just to mutilate someone by cutting off a hand for stealing some bread.
vi. Compare this the a culture of personal revenge and vendetta (think of the movie The Godfather) or ‘honor killings’ in Pakistan.
vii. Chrysostom, a Church Father, pointed out that it would be cruel not to have a command for society to punish a destructively violent person.
viii. Still, as Martin Luther King, Jr. observe, this law leaves everybody toothless and blind.
ix. This law is harsh and pitiless, but it is not unfair and is not mere rule by force.
c. So we have the floor, what does Jesus build above that? “Do not resist the evildoer.”
i. Resist. Put bluntly, “resist” is a poor translation. Repay is a better way to understand what Jesus is talking about. One of a few places where the NIV and NRSV are significantly in error.
· Carter renders as do not violently resist, ie we should oppose evil but not with physical violence
· Bruner has repay
· Hagner sticks with resist, but sees it as the act, not evil person.
This teaching does not excuse or prohibit opposition to evil in the world.
ii. Evil ? Devil, no. Peson, maybe. More likely the act.
iii. So: don’t payback the bad action. Don’t return evil for evil (I Peter 3:9)ii
iv. Illustrations will emphasize this as a personal ethic.
Conclusions: Jesus teaches “Do not repay evil actions.”
d. A point about the illustrations: Jesus is talking to you about your behavior. This is not an abstraction.
It does not prohibit the restraint and punishment of evil acts necessary for civil society
e. Four provocative, realistic examples to help us to consider how to apply Jesus’ teaching when treated with contempt, coercion and manipulation. THESE ARE NOT RULES TO REPLACE THE OLD LAW! (5:17).
In each provocative case, Jesus is looking for you to make an imaginative kingdom-based response that is rooted in love.
Instead of attacking or running away, how do we stand and face the wrong doer?
f. Example 1 Contempt
But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
· This seems more of a slap than a punch
· On the right cheek so with the back of the hand,
· act of contempt, rather than physical assault
· We have to wonder, “How often were people in Jesus’ audience smacked in the face?”
· Offering the other cheek is a form of standing to confront the person offering us contempt
g. Example 2 coercion
40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
· Most people wore two garments. Cloak as a kind of loose underalls. Coat was a heavier outer garment.
· The Cloak was what ordinary people slept in to stay warm.
· If the cloak was taken as collateral for a loan, it had to be returned at sundown (Ex 20:26). 1) puny loan! 2) so they could stay warm at night
· Very shabby business to be using legal pressure in a conflict to take someone’s warmth at night.
· Offering the cloak (undergarment-literally the shirt off their back). Is this a way to use shame to confront the person?
h. Example 3 coercion
if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
· Roman soldier could require someone to carry the soldiers armor for one mile. I believe they could use force to extract the labor.
· This was adamantly despised by the Jewish people. It reminded them personally that their nation had been conquered.
· Think of how agrivating it would be to have a soldier come up to you on the road and simply hand you there armor and say, come with me. Maybe you were in a hurry or headed somewhere else. Then you had to walk a mile back.
· Maybe we could compare it to the requirement to house British soldiers that infuriated our forefathers in colonial America. Or enslaved people Africans required to take on new names in the Americas. Both of these things reminded people of their subjugation
· Jesus recommends confronting this coercion by finding a shocking occasion of freedom. Choose to continue service. The first mile is co-erced, but the second mile is an independent act.
i. Example manipulation
Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
· St. Augustine points out that we give and lend, but that does not mean it must be exactly what they ask to have or borrow.
· This does not seem to address commercial lending, with normal collateral, terms, etc.
· This is more the loan or gift requested on personal terms: the in-law asking for money. Again. So the situation is mundane manipulation, for money or something else.
· How will you be generous in the face of someone who is relying on the relationship with you largely for their own benefit?
B BLOCK
- Person: What do Jesus words reveals about who he is?
· He certainly knows how people behave and misbehave toward each other.
· Jesus wants us to actively engage with evil actions in the world, but not to pay them back. This is very much like his own incarnation. The Son of God became human to engage with our need for salvation.
· Jesus lived and died by this principal. He engaged Jewish and Pagan authorities. In his capture and trial, Jesus could have talked his way out of things, but he chose to face and confront those before him
- Theology: What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?
· We must remember the grace of the beatitudes if we are going to actually live with grace in the face of contempt, coercion and manipulation
- Eternity: How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?
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- Ethics: What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?
(Bruner’s little steps; Willard’s dikaiosune –how is a good person to live?)
· Contempt, coercion and manipulation are common in human life, so we need to know how to stand and confront them in a Christian way.
· What ways can you think of contemporary examples of how you experience, witness or perhaps act yourself out
o Contempt
o Coercion
o Manipulation
· Is there a way to stand with humanity? Turn the other cheek
· Is there a way to retain freedom in the face of coercion? Cloak/extra mile
· Is there a way to point out the manipulation for what it is?
CLOSING
Thanks for listening to the podcast for the Journey Sunday School class. A Production of Simply Stated from Hey, Vern! Media.
Invite comment or questions
God bless you
October 20, 2019
Matthew 5: 31-32
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
INTRODUCTION
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Interesting quote to start
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Last week we talked about self-indulgent lust. Today we are reading Matthew 5:31-32, about divorce, and so marriage as well.
We are using a four part framework to understand different sections of the Sermon on the mount
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Person: What do Jesus words reveals about who he is?
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Theology: What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?
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Ethics: What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?
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Eternity: How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?
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But first let’s read the passage and try to get the basic pieces simply stated.
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Read 5:21-26
We don’t have the vivid imagery like of the last two passages—buring garbage, severed hands and plucked eye.
But the words are very abrupt, bracing, upsetting, startling.
A BLOCK
- Stating things Simply
a. Start with my illustrations of covenant
b. It was also said—
· 3rd in a series of six sayings where Jesus contrasts regumular religious teaching with his fulfillment of the law.
· Jesus subject is the male desire to get rid on an unpleasing woman, which men often hold as very important. This is his topic, more than divorce.
· Not as simple as commenting on or even fulfilling one of the ten commandments like do not murder or do not commit adultery. Jesus is commenting on regular practice of the ancient world. Practice:If a man kicks his wife out of the household, he should provide proper documentation. that is solidified in Deuteronomy 24. “Suppose a man marries …then divorces….”
c. Jesus view was shocking in his day.
d. Divorce was really a male insititution. Ie women could not initiate divorce or survice with out it
e. Without those divorces papers, the woman is reduced to prostitution and even that misery could taken from here. She would be unable to re-marry. Here we might long to hear Jesus say, “Blessed are the powerless…”
f. But I say…Jesus seems to be taking a side in debate of his day about divorce….
g. Unchastity
· Curious old fashioned word
· Greek word a little helpful: porneia, which gives us the English word pornography. Sexual infidelity
· Finds out she had sex before the marriage? That seems unlikely
· Maybe paraphrase as corrupting breach of marriage?
· Would domestic violence count as such breach of marriage?
h. Can you make someone else and adulterer? Bruner “drives her to adultery” as fact of lack of way to live decently
i. Divorce is public, unlike private disagreements and anger.
j. Hyperbole? He did not intend the hand cutting or eye plucking literally, should we take this literally?
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Probably need another passage: 19:5, which takes us to Genesis 2:24
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Can we compare this to the necceisty of the church in parts of Africa resolving how to accept men into membership who are already married to more than one woman. [too complicating]
a.
8.
B BLOCK
- Jesus introduces himself as the key to scripture
a. Person
· Teaches that the goal of marriage is to be a life long union.
· Is this the same Jesus we saw as wry if not humor, suddenly turned starkly serious? Or is he dealing in the same absurdity’s?
· His cousing, John the Baptist, was beheaded for criticizing the marriage of the king
b. Theology
· Clarifies the intent and meaning of maariage if we take in Mt 19:5
· Justification as decent enough is rejected
c. Ethics (Bruner’s little steps; Willard’s dikaiosune –how is a good person to live?)
· Martin luther taught to forgive and occasion of infidelity, but not ongoing sin that takes mercy for granted. So found that Christians could divorce.
· Raises hard questions: can disciples of Jesus divorce? Remarry? The answer seems yes. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
· Jesus rejects doing wrong if proper protocol is followed
· Disciples have KoH resources of reconciliation
· Christians divorcing is not unlike medical triage. To save some people or things, someone else—the marriage—dies.
· Jesus is not teaching a set of rules—always stay married—any more than allow divorce as long as the proper form is followed
· Breaking covenant bonds is damaging, and Jesus wants to prevent that hurt to people.
- Eternity.
· Marriage is a covenant, so is meant to endure.
· Divorce disrupts created order, even though it also saves people from destructive and corrosive wickedness like betrayal and violence.
· Remember that Jesus begins with grace based benediction
- Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find thathe is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
CLOSING
Extra
- Least and greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Bounus: Tragedy as conflict of two virtues in a character.
Exploration of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:27-30. First just simply stating the meaning in the passage, then exploring how the passage teaches us about who Jesus is, the big ideas of his teaching, how his teaching shapes our way of life, and how he connects eternity with our day to day living.
Matthew 5:21-26
October 6, 2019
Matthew 5: 21-26 and 27-30
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
- Start with one or two quotes. Did not expect to be talking about hell.
“The holiness of God is at war with all birreness, hatred and hurting” Frederich Dale Bruner, The Christbook: Mattehw 1-12 rev and expanded 213
“God has threatened hell, not in order to sast us therin, but that he might persuade us to flee [from it]” Chrysostom quoted by FD Bruner ibid. 213.
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Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. Today we are reading Matthew 5:21-26, and if time allows, verse 27-30. That means it is rage and resentment day at Simply stated, and lust, if we don’t get stuck in anger.
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Listen know the God’s word:
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Read 5:21-26
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Todays’ passage, and the rest of this chapter helps us understand something puzzling from last week.
Jesus said 5:17-fulfill.
Very traditional and correct way of understanding is to say Jesus accomplishes the law. He does what they require.
Let’s look at Jesus’ own words about the law
We can clearly see and understand what Jesus means when he said that he fulfills scripture.
For the rest of chapter, Jesus repeats a phrase: “You have heard that it was said, [then he mentions something from the law], but I say to you…
And then Jesus gives a teaching. That second teaching is his fulfilling the law.
You have heard it said…I say…
· Murderàrage, contempt and resentment
· Adulteryàlust
· Love neighboràlove enemies
Jesus is explicitly contrast the OT scripture here!
- A few points stated simply
a. Think I was wrong last week, when I said that be angry here was to act out in rage.. Anger could be furious rage, but the word also means lingering resentment. Jesus is addressing nursing a grudge.
b. Insult. The word Jesus used was Raca which sounds rough and contemptuous. We don’t know the exact meaning, but it is not nice. Maybe it is like the word stupid. If we call someone stupid, that is a surprisingly strong insult.
c. You fool: idiot. Moron.
d. If I do something foolish, and someone wants to tease me about it, they could do it without attacking or insulting me, especially by changing their tone: “Blaine, that was not smart!” I might not like it, but I’ll perceive they are really pointing out my misjudgement. But if they call me a name or ugly word—and we all know what those very hostile words are—that is painful.
e. If you know a child that has been verbally abused by a parent—or God forbid, you were—you have seen the damage verbal attacks can inflict.
f. Judgement: magistrate’s office
g. Sanhedrin--supreme court
h. Hell of Gehenna—very specific place. The smouldering dump outside of the city of Jerusalem. Maybe compare to the sewage plant
i. Pretty clear that Jesus meant this to be suprising and shocking, an unexpected escalation.
j. Brother or sister—another Christian.
k. Temple—place of sacrifice in Jerusalem. Hugely important action in the life of faithful Jews. And Jesus is saying to leave, to go patch things with someone. Maybe we could understand it if we say, “If you are walking forward to take the Lord’s Supper, and you remember that a brother or sister has something against you.
l. Court—seems to be debtors prison.
- Jesus introduces himself as the key to scripture
a. Person
b. Theology
c. Ethics
d. Eternity
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What do Jesus words reveals about who he is.
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What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?
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What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?
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How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?
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Person.
a. First, Jesus is claiming a level of authority that is hard for us to first recognize, authority not simply to interpret scripture, but to bring it to fullness. Do not murderàanger, resentment, cussing at people, settling disagreements.
b. If we think about Jesus and anger.
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Theology: Our relationship with God is directly linked to our relationship to other people. Our day to day treatment of others is directly connected to eternity.
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Ethics (Bruner’s little steps) How will we deal with conflict, either our wrong or theirs?
a. When we recognize that someone has something against us, that is the moment to begin to make it right
b. Try to settle difficulty directly with the other person
c. Movement from holding something against someone, to having hurt someone else.
- Eternity.
a. The power of resentment to enduringly poison us and our relationship
b. Caveat: Our understanding of Hell is colored by Dante, Milton and of cartoon devils and angels. It is quite difficult to set some of that aside to clearly listen to Jesus’ words about hades or the Kingdom of Heaven.
c. Remember that in his Jesus first public teaching, Jesus says—“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Mt 4:17
i. We are called to turn to a different way of living-Repent
ii. KoH is something we can experience at present
d. Jesus is the one raised to be the first person to enter eternal life, and be raised up into heaven. He promises the thief on the cross to be with him
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Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find thathe is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
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What is Jesus relationship to the law and the prophets (Scripture)?
a. Not to abolish
b. Fulfill
c. Accomplish
- Least and greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Bounus: Tragedy as conflict of two virtues in a character.
Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
My notes for The Journal Sunday School Class and the podcast
September 29, 2019
Matthew 5:17-20; perhaps with Matthew 9:1-4
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
- Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC.
We continue in Jesus sermon on the Mount in the 5th through 7th Chapters of the Gospel according to Matthew. In the last few weeks we read the series of blessings that Jesus announces as the opening of the sermon, for example, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
We also heard Jesus tell us that we are the salt of the earth and light of the world. Keep in mind that Jesus is announcing his Father’s goodness and grace to us, a grace that gives meaning, purpose and shape to our life. God’s work in Jesus blesses us and calls us to new life.
Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
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Read the passage
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Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find thathe is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
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What is Jesus relationship to the law and the prophets (Scripture)?
a. Not to abolish
b. Fulfill
c. Accomplish
- Some ways to think about the law…(WCF XXI)
a. Moral
b. Ceremonial
c. Judicial—Civil law
d. Three uses of the law: restrain vice, convict of sin, guide us in holiness.
e. Though the law is not needed to create works for salvation it is still of great use to inform of God’s will, show and convict of sin, show our need for Christ, show the blessings of obedience, show us how to live
- Least and greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
a. Least in comparison to John the Baptist Mt 11:11-12
b. Who is great? The least Mt 18:1-5
c. Inversion Matthew 19:30, 20:1ff.
d. My inversion theory. America focused on middle, Jesus on first and last.[i]
- This passage gives us a structure to consider scripture:
Person/Theology/Ethics/Eternity
a. Person of Jesus. verse 17—consider how amazing that Jesus sets up the question. Scripture is defined in relationship to himself. He is not setting it aside, but is not simply affirming scripture in his teaching. He is the one to bring scripture to its point and end.
Importance of the person of Jesus: Hymn-Just give me Jesus.
For example, the first thing Jesus does after the sermon on the mount is not only to heal a leper, but to do so by touching the leper (8:1-4).
I do choose! His healing is a personal act and decision by Jesus.
According to the law, that act should make Jesus ceremonially unclean, but in fact the exact opposite happens. He makes the leper clean and restores the man in his ability to go into the temple.
To understand the Kingdom of Heaven, to know how to live life well, we start with the person of Jesus, the Son of God.
b. Theology. 18—God has not abandoned his work within creation. In fact it is the person of Jesus where God is completing his work of righteousness, justice and restoration.
c. Ethics-19 Jesus embeds scripture into the life of disciples and Christian community by both action and teaching.
d. Eternity-Jesus attaches our conduct to eternity and sets our goal far beyond ourselves and own power. What can be more absurd than to say that mortals could generate for themselves anything of heaven.
- Let’s look at the first issue Jesus takes up
e. Person: You heard, but I say 21-22. Given that the next ethical points deal with behavior, as does insulting and cursing, it seems that anger here is action, not just interior emotion.
f. Theology: 23-24 reconciliation over practices of worship. Notice this is not a prohibition against participating, but saying to go directly and be reconciled.
g. Ethics: 24b-25 be reconciled. Seek it out! It this pragmatic wisdom? A larger vision?
h. Eternity 26. Never.
- Some takeaways
i. Jesus’ disciples are not satisfied with the minimally acceptable amount. Following him means we are oriented to the standards and goals of KoH. As a follower of Jesus, do you need to lift up your expectations?
j. Sometimes we play down the seriousness of our sin. Jesus is willing to forgive us all our sins, but he is not willing to simply dismiss them. On the other hand, we can pretend that someone’s sin against us does not really hurt or harm us. Is there some sin we have done, or even had committed against us, and need to recognize its significance?
k. We cannot live in a proper relationship with God while maintaining a broken relationship in Christian fellowship.
l. How might our life be different—better—if we take seriously the high ambitions and calling that Jesus has for how we conduct ourselves. This impact to the world is set up in the verses that precede (13-16), with call to be salt and light.
[i] Paul Cantor https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Dark-Side-American-Dream/dp/0813177308/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=paul+cantor&qid=1569524444&sr=8-1
We list to Jesus’ tell us who we are in his Father’s Kingdom and the purpose he gives our life.
Reflection on the beginning of Jesus’ first teaching in the Gospel of Matthew, a series of blessings that are traditionally called The Beatitudes.